Pesticide Container/Containment Rule

The USEPA is required by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to promulgate regulations prescribing procedures and standards for container design and the removal of pesticides from containers prior to disposal.  On October 29, 2008, EPA published a final rule that amended the pesticide container and containment regulations. The following are some of the changes EPA made by amending the container and containment regulations:

  • Extended the labeling compliance date from August 17, 2009 to August 17, 2010;
  • Changed the phrase “sold or distributed” to “released for shipment” where it is used in association with compliance dates;
  • Provided for exceptions to some of the container-type labeling requirements for some specific nonrefillable types of containers;
  • Allowed EPA to grant waivers of the container-type label requirements for other refillable and nonrefillable containers on a case-by-case basis; and
  • Provided for exceptions to the requirement for residue removal instructions for some specific types of containers.

Compliance with the containment regulations is required by August 17, 2009 and pesticide labels will be required to start including the disposal language by August 17, 2010. The following are some documents and links to assist dealers, registrants and applicators to comply with these new requirements.

USEPA web page on the Container & Containment Rule

Container/Containment Brochure

Schematic of the scope of the Pesticide Containment Rule

USEPA Q & A page on container language

For more information concerning the Container/Containment regulations, please contact:

Bob Spencer, Bureau Chief (208) 332-8613
George Robinson, Administrator (208) 332-8531

Fax: (208) 334-3547