The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) advises the public of the requirements for the sale, purchase and use of Restricted Use Pesticides (RUP).
It is illegal for anyone who is not a certified pesticide applicator or persons under the direct supervision of a certified applicator to sell, purchase and/or use an RUP. Furthermore, no product with a use classified for restricted use by a regulation may be distributed or sold by a retailer or another person unless the product bears a label or labeling that contains the terms of restricted use imposed by the United States Environmental Production Agency (US EPA).
RUPs have the potential to cause unreasonable adverse effects to the environment and injury to applicators or bystanders without added restrictions. The ‘Restricted Use’ classification restricts a product or its users to use by a certified applicator or someone under the certified applicator’s direct supervision.
Some RUPs include, but are not limited to, carbofuran, clonitralid, disulfoton, methidathion, methomyl, methyl bromide, nicotine (alkaloid), phorate, picloram, strychnine, vikane and zinc phosphide.
“DPNR is concerned for the health and safety of individuals in our communities using Restricted Use Pesticides,” said Commissioner Dawn L. Henry. “RUP’s are a combination of very serious chemicals, and if not applied properly can cause severe injury and death and serious harm to our environment. I urge you to protect yourself and your family and use only certified applicators.”
Henry warns that anyone found in violation of the aforementioned requirements will be subject to enforcement actions under local and federal laws. For more information, contact the Division of Environmental Protection Pesticides Control Program at 773-1082 in the St. Croix District or 774-3320 in the St. Thomas-St. John District.
