S2721 — An Act restricting the use of rodenticides in the environment

Summary

An Act restricting the use of rodenticides in the environment

Bill Text

• Full text Current

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes regulations for the emergency use of anticoagulant rodenticides in public health situations and defines anticoagulant rodenticides.

• Section 2 of chapter 132B

  “Anticoagulant rodenticide”, any pesticide product that has a mode of action that interferes with blood clotting including, but not limited to, any pesticide product containing one or more of the following active ingredients: Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, Chlorophacinone, Difenacoum, Difethialone, Diphacinonon, or Warfarin.

  This adds a definition for 'Anticoagulant rodenticide' to the statute.

• Section 5 of chapter 132B

  The department, with the approval of the board, shall by regulation establish a process and standards for the limited use of anticoagulant rodenticides by licensed applicators in public health emergencies, including but not limited to provisions for the emergency use of anticoagulant rodenticides to protect drinking water supply, to control vectors for mosquito-borne illness, and for emergent infectious disease control; provided, however, that such regulations shall allow for one-time indoor use in a single location to address a public health emergency, as determined by the commissioner of public health, in the commissioner’s sole discretion; and provided further, that such allowable one-time use shall: (i) be limited to 14 days; (ii) be accompanied by integrated pest management actions that include non-chemical methods and exclusionary measures to control rodents; (iii) require additional labeling of anticoagulant rodenticides used, including but not limited to, the name of the rodenticide clearly labeled on any bait box; (iv) require written rationale for the need for anticoagulant rodenticides over other non-toxic short-term alternatives; and (v) require applicators to report to the department after the 14-day emergency use period and include a plan for ongoing rodent control at the location.

  This establishes a regulatory framework for the emergency use of anticoagulant rodenticides.

• Section 7 of chapter 132B

  The subcommittee as established in section 3A of this chapter shall not register or reregister anticoagulant rodenticides, except that it may register or reregister anticoagulant rodenticides for emergency use, as provided by the department pursuant to section 5 of this chapter.

  This restricts the registration and re-registration of anticoagulant rodenticides by the subcommittee to only those for emergency use.

• The department shall report annually and include on its website information regarding the emergency use of anticoagulant rodenticides including, but not limited to, locations where the anticoagulant rodenticide was used, the types and amounts used, the contents of ongoing rodent control plans required in section 5 of chapter 132B, and relevant accompanying documents.

  This mandates annual reporting by the department on the emergency use of anticoagulant rodenticides.

• This Act shall take effect January 1, 2028.

  This specifies an effective date for the new provisions.

Sponsors

• Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources · Primary

Subjects