Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136-136y)

This Act provides the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the authority to oversee the sale and use of pesticides. All new pesticides (with minor exceptions) used in the United States must be registered by the Administrator of EPA. Except as provided by this Act no person in any State may distribute or sell to any person any pesticide that is not registered. Before EPA can register a pesticide that is used on raw agricultural products, it must grant a tolerance or exemption. A tolerance is the maximum amount of a pesticide that can be on a raw product when it is used and still be considered safe. Under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), a raw agricultural product is deemed unsafe if it contains a pesticide residue, unless the residue is within the limits of a tolerance established by EPA or is exempt from the requirement. The FDCA requires EPA to establish these residue tolerances.
The Act sets out registration requirements and procedures. It also deals with the application of pesticides (by certified applicators) labelling of pesticides, the cancellation of registration and restrictions on the use of pesticides. It also requires that imported pesticides be subject to the same requirements of testing and registration as domestic products.