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Pesticide Container and Containment Rule
Resources
- Rinsing Procedures for Dilutable Pesticide Products in Rigid Containers (PDF) (9 pp, 126 K, About PDF)
- Outline of Key Requirements (PDF) (20 pp, 303 K, About PDF)
- Federal Register Notice (PDF) (109 pp, 696 K, About PDF)
- Press Release
- Labeling revisions required by "Pesticide Containers and Containment" final rule. (16 pp, 163 K, About PDF)
- Frequently Asked Questions on the Container and Containment Labeling Requirements
EPA is required by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to promulgate regulations prescribing procedures and standards for container design and the removal of pesticides from containers prior to disposal. Information on this page will help registrants, refillers, retailers, commercial applicators and custom blenders to comply with the requirements of this rule. See Sections 19(e) and (f) of the FIFRA. 
EPA’s final regulations, "Standards for Pesticide Containers and Containment" were published on August 16, 2006 (Federal Register Vol. 71, Number 158, pp. 47329 - 47437) (109 pp, 696 KB, About PDF). The Agency is proposing amendments to the final regulations to address stakeholder concerns and to correct typographical and other minor errors.
The final regulations include five sections, which are described below.
- Nonrefillable Containers: This section addresses "one-way" or disposable containers and applies to pesticide registrants. The purpose of these standards is to ensure that containers are strong and durable, minimize human exposure during container handling and facilitate container disposal and recycling.
- Refillable Containers: This section applies to containers that are intended to be refilled and reused more than once and applies to pesticide registrants. The purpose of these standards is to ensure that containers are strong and durable, minimize cross-contamination of pesticides distributed in refillable containers, and encourage the use of refillable containers to reduce container disposal problems.
- Repackaging: This section, which describes procedures and other safeguards for repackaging pesticide into refillable containers, applies to pesticide registrants and anyone who refills pesticide containers for sale (registrants, formulators, distributors and dealers). These regulations are intended to minimize cross-contamination of pesticides distributed in refillable containers, codify safe refilling management practices and encourage the use of refillable containers to reduce container disposal problems.
- Labeling: The labeling segment includes instructions for how to properly clean pesticide containers and a statement identifying the container as nonrefillable or refillable. Pesticide registrants are required to ensure that labels include the specified information. Pesticide users are required to comply with the instructions on the labels.
- Containment Structures: This section establishes standards for secondary containment structures at certain bulk storage sites and for containment pads at certain pesticide dispensing operations. Pesticide dealers who repackage pesticides, commercial applicators and custom blenders have to comply with the requirements. The purpose of these standards is to protect the environment from leaks and spills at bulk storage areas and from contamination due to pesticide dispensing operations.
EPA prepared an outline of the key requirements (PDF) (20 pp, 303 KB, About PDF) in the final rule to facilitate the regulated community's ability to determine who is subject to the rule and how to comply.
Related Documents
- Pesticide Container Recycling: Proposed Rule OMB Concludes EO 12866 Review by Returning Proposal to EPA for Reconsideration.
- The EPA test procedure, "Rinsing Procedures for Dilutable Pesticide Products in Rigid Containers - basic testing recommendations" (PDF) (9 pp, 126 K, About PDF) - is referenced in the August 16, 2006 pesticide container regulations under ยง165.25(f)(1).
- On February 11, 1994, EPA published proposed regulations, "Standards for Pesticide Containers and Containment" (59 FR 6712).
- On October 21, 1999, EPA published a supplemental notice reopening the comment period (64 FR 56918) on issues brought out in comments on the proposed rule or by recently enacted legislation. The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996 amended section 19(h) to add an exemption for certain antimicrobial pesticides. The 1999 supplemental notice discussed potential changes in the pesticide container standards that would:
- narrow the scope of the proposed container/containment regulations based on toxicity category and container size;
- exempt certain antimicrobial products from the container standards; and
- adopt and refer to some of the Department of Transportation (DOT) packaging standards.
- On June 30, 2004 EPA published a Federal Register notice to reopen the public comment period on the proposed regulation establishing standards for pesticide containers and containment.
The notice also provided an alternative definition of small business for certain sectors of the pesticide industry. The overall effect of the notice was to focus on higher-risk pesticide products and to exempt lower-risk products from certain container standards in the 1994 proposed rule. The changes promoted the use of refillable containers and strove for consistency with the federal packaging standards by adopting the DOT standards. It proposed a reduction in the number of pesticide products subject to the container requirements compared to the original proposal.
Because significant time had passed since the publication of the proposed regulation, EPA reopened the comment period prior to preparing a final rule. EPA wanted to obtain public input on any issues or technology relating to the proposed requirements that would not have been available or could not have been addressed in earlier comment periods.
For additional information about the pesticide container and containment rule, contact:
- Nancy Fitz (fitz.nancy@epa.gov), 703-305-7385
- Jeanne Kasai (kasai.jeanne@epa.gov), 703-308-3240
General information about storage and disposal of pesticide containers