The Division of Pesticide Control works to ensure the safe and proper use of chemical pesticides by enforcing state pesticide laws affecting sale, storage and application of all registered pesticides, examining and licensing pesticide dealers and users, and registering all economic poisons sold and used within the state. The division conducts regulatory programs in cooperation with federal agencies and carries out the policies established by the state pesticide control board.

Pesticide Certification and Licensing
The Division requires licensing or permitting of all commercial and private pesticide applicators as well as pesticide dealers. Through this process, only persons demonstrating satisfactory competence in the safe and legal use of pesticides within New Hampshire may apply pesticides. The Division also requires re-certification whereby every five years each licensed individual attends educational seminars to ensure they remain up to date in pesticide knowledge. This subdivision is ultimately responsible for coordinating all required testing, licensing and permitting for pesticide applicators and dealers.

Pesticide Licensing

Groundwater Program
The groundwater program embodies those activities undertaken by the division to protect the state's water from contamination by pesticides. These include the development and administration of state management plans to meet federal and state requirements for groundwater protection, the design and implementation of a monitoring program to assess the impact of pesticides and management programs on water quality, reviewing special permit applications and imposing conditions to minimize risk of pesticide contamination, participating in the source-water protection program administered by the NH Department of Environmental Services, and conducting outreach and education in matters pertaining to pesticides and water quality.

Integrated Pest Management Program
Integrated Pest Management or IPM combines the use of biological, cultural, physical and chemical tactics in ways that minimize health and environmental risks and economic loss when controlling pests. The IPM Program is an instrument to promote, through education and training, a sustainable approach to managing pests and "to bring about the broadest possible application of the principles of integrated pest management to agriculture, horticulture, arboriculture, landscape and building maintenance, and any other areas in which economic poisons are employed (Chapter 323, Laws of 1998)." The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food, Division of Pesticide Control, as the legally mandated agency ensuring the safe, scientific, and proper use of pesticides, administrates the Integrated Pest Management Program and the grant funding associated with it. The Program grant application process is open to all residents of New Hampshire including citizens from the private sector, extension offices, trade organizations, corporate organizations, and government agencies who wish to foster Integrated Pest Management projects.
Learn more about the IPM Grant Program
Review our publications

Worker Protection Standard Links
The federal worker protection standard (WPS) has been in place now since 1992 and for those of you that use pesticides and hire agricultural employees in your operations, taking the required steps to comply with this regulation should be routine.  As a quick review, this federal law, and the associated New Hampshire regulations, are designed to protect your employees from pesticide exposures through practices including conducting pesticide safety training, posting pesticide safety information, displaying specific information about your pesticide applications, notifying employees of the locations of treated areas, and providing decontamination supplies and emergency assistance in the event of a pesticide mishaps.  The regulation was developed to reduce the likelihood of accidental pesticide exposures for your employees and to provide them with the assistance and information they might need to properly deal with pesticide related emergencies.  Reducing the risks associated with pesticide use is a common goal we in agriculture can feel good about promoting and sharing and as a regulatory entity in the department of agriculture, markets and food, we at the division of pesticide control are responsible for enforcing the worker safety provisions. 

After having conducted numerous pesticide worker safety inspections, we have, however, discovered some common problem areas growers are experiencing in fulfilling some of the worker protection requirements.  For example, we have found instances where pesticide applicators, both private and commercial, have used pesticide products that are not properly labeled for plants being grown for sale.  Some newer pesticide labels contain language that outright prohibits their use at nurseries or greenhouses or they may contain statements that include “For Home Use Only.”  Pesticide products such as these do not have agricultural labels referencing 40 CFR Part 170 (the Worker Protection Standard regulation) and do not include “Agricultural Use” boxes which include information you may need such as restricted entry intervals and important personal protective equipment requirements.  In addition, these homeowner products often do not have labels providing relevant instructions for use, such as mixing or application rates, for larger scale operations.  Using homeowner type products in a commercial setting could lead to disappointing and costly pest control results.  Be careful when purchasing these products and make certain they are appropriately formulated and labeled for your situation.  If you are unsure, please contact the division as all pesticide labels registered for use in New Hampshire are kept on file and can be referenced fairly quickly by our staff.

Secondly, growers should be aware that when pesticide applications are “hired out,” specific information about those applications must be exchanged between the owner/operator of the agricultural establishment where the pesticides are applied (Agricultural Employer) and the person hired to apply the pesticides (Handler Employer) before the spraying occurs.  The responsibility of then properly conveying information about where pesticides will been applied as well as specific information about the pesticides to be used to the employees working on-site lies solely with the Agricultural Employer.  It is important to note that this responsibility cannot be “hired out” to the person(s) contracted to provide pesticide services.

Finally, for those organic growers who use pesticide products, it is still necessary to obtain the proper permits/licenses from the division, follow all label instructions and comply with all the rules of the pesticide control board (such as recordkeeping and storage rules) as well as the provisions of the federal WPS regulations.  Those products which are allowed for use on organic operations producing agricultural commodities must still be labeled as agricultural pesticides and as such, will include requirements for the proper protection of employees as outlined in the WPS regulation. 

For more information about the federal worker protection standard or to receive a copy of the revised 2005 edition of the EPA’s “How to Comply with the Worker Protection Standard For Agricultural Pesticides.”   Contact the division for this publication.

The Worker Protection Standard and Recent Amendments
WPS How to Comply Manual
WPS Internet Links
Quick Refernce Guide to WPS-2005

Pesticide Registration

EPA and Regulating Pesticides