ODA Adopts Permanent Rules to Implement New Pesticide License Type and Enforcement Authority
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) has adopted permanent rules to implement House Bill 4062 (2022) and House Bill 2031 (2021). HB 4062 created a new “noncommercial” applicator license type, and HB 2031 granted new authority to ODA related to the Restricted Use of Pesticides.
These permanent rules go into effect on November 17, 2023.
Noncommercial Pesticide Applicator License
As defined in HB 4062, the new “Noncommercial" license type will cover:
individuals (except government employees) who apply restricted use pesticides (RUPs) on property they or their employer owns or leases for a purpose other than the production of an agricultural commodity or forest crop – examples include employees of golf courses, wood treatment facilities, wineries that fumigate wine barrels/corks, businesses that treat purchased agricultural commodities; and
private school employees or owners who apply or supervise the application of any pesticide to their own private school campus, as defined in ORS 634.700.
One benefit is that the employer of a Noncommercial Pesticide Applicator does not need to be licensed as a Commercial Pesticide Operator. This represents a cost savings on licensing fees and, potentially, insurance costs. The adopted rules implement the new Noncommercial license type in a manner that does not weaken protections for people and the environment by not reducing competency or renewal standards.
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