Stay up to date with the latest from the Board of Pesticides Control. This update covers everything you need to know about upcoming meetings, new rules, and important reminders to keep you and your community safe. We’re here to keep you informed, and we’d like to hear your thoughts—drop us an email anytime at pesticides@maine.gov.
The next Board Meeting is October 3, 2025 it will be hybrid at the Deering Building in Rm 101 in Augusta, ME 04330, and on Microsoft Teams. The meeting starts at 9:00 AM. For more information, visit the Board Meetings Page.
Upcoming Credit Meetings
The following program has been approved for pesticide recertification credits. More recertification opportunities may be found on the BPC Credit Calendar.
October 2, 2025 – 2025 Greenhouse Best Management Practices
Location: Estabrooks New Facility, Pownel, Pownel ME
BPC and DEP are hosting the annual obsolete pesticide collection events. Registrations are open for the 2025 season. See the flyer below for more details.
This is a FREE program for Maine residents that would like to safely dispose of their pesticide and adjuvant waste. This program is open to homeowners, gardeners, and family-owned farms. Registration is required to participate. Registrants will receive a packet in October with more information about the late October events held in Presque Isle, Bangor, Augusta, and Portland. For more information, scan the QR code below or visit our Pesticide Disposal Resources webpage for more details.
This program is not open for commercial pesticide waste. Commercial applicators are encouraged to reach out to hazardous waste contractors for their excess or unusable pesticides.
Anonymous Rodenticide Stakeholder Survey, September 2025
In 2025, the 132nd legislature passed LD 356 Resolve, Directing the Board of Pesticides Control to Prohibit the Use of Rodenticides in Outdoor Residential Settings (PL 2025 c. 47). This bill asks the BPC to prohibit the use of rodenticides in outdoor residential settings unless applied by a certified applicator. The bill goes into effect on September 25, 2025.
The Board is interested in hearing from affected parties prior to entering rulemaking. If your business will be affected by the restriction or prohibition of rodenticides, please fill out the survey below. This information will remain anonymous, and only the answers to questions will be shared at the public board meetings. Answers must be in by October 31st, 2025, to be considered.
This survey will ask several questions about different types of anticoagulants, including first-generation anticoagulants, second-generation anticoagulants, and products that are not anticoagulants. An explanation for these types can be found below or on EPA’s website.
Effective Dates of Bills Passed in the 132nd Legislature
In June, we updated you on the pesticide-related bills that passed the 132ndlegislative season. All of these bills have an effective date of September 25, 2025. This means that all of the bills below are effective as of this date, and any statute that was amended, added, or removed will be updated and enforced. Any rulemaking will require the board to follow the Maine APA (Administrative Procedures Act) 5 MRSA §8001-§11008, where the board will give public notice of proposed rulemaking and solicit public comment at public hearings. Notices will be on the BPC’s rulemaking website, through this GovDelivery listserv, and through 5 newspapers in Maine as required by the APA.
LD 356: Resolve, Directing the Board of Pesticides Control to Prohibit the Use of Rodenticides in Outdoor Residential Settings
This bill directs the board to prohibit the use of rodenticides in outdoor residential settings. Certified applicators (commercial, private, or ag basic) are exempt from this prohibition. The board must submit a report to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee on the progress of this prohibition by January 15, 2026. This bill will require rulemaking, likely under Chapter 40 or 41.
LD 1323: Resolve, Directing the Board of Pesticides Control to Evaluate the Impact of Neonicotinoids on Pollinators, Humans and the Environment
This bill directs the board to complete a full research report and evaluation on seven topics related to neonicotinoid pesticides and neonicotinoid-treated seeds. An interim report is due to the legislature on January 15, 2026 and the full report is due to the legislature on January 15, 2027. The estimated cost of this research is $156,000.
LD 1697: An Act to Increase Penalties to Deter Violations of the Laws Regarding Improper Pesticide Use
This bill changes statute under 7 MRSA §616-A to create larger penalties for pesticide violations. The language is broken up into two sections: Section 1 is for commercial applicators and unlicensed individuals, where fines for a single violation can reach as much as $10,000, with additional fines for individuals that may benefit from penalties and those that repeatedly violate pesticide laws over a 4-year period; and Section 2 is for private and agricultural basic applicators, where fines were increased to a maximum of $1,000 to $2,000 for those that repeatedly violate pesticide laws over a 4-year period. Additionally, this bill directs the board to:
Establish a penalty schedule for violations of the laws and rules governing pesticides to create transparency for future penalties assessed;
Provide the means by which separate civil suits may be brought against the same violator of the laws and rules governing pesticides if pesticide migration through soil or bedrock occurs affecting more than one property;
Provide for the restoration of affected property and replacement of vegetation as penalties for violations of the laws and rules governing pesticides in addition to monetary penalties; and
Designate pesticides with the active ingredient tebuthiuron as state restricted use pesticides.
This bill will require rulemaking, likely under Chapter 40, to restrict the use of tebuthiuron, as well as policy creation for the penalty schedule for violations under the new law. This statute becomes effective September 25, 2025.
All of these bills have been and will continue to be discussed at board meetings. Please reach out to pesticides@maine.gov or 207-287-2731 if you have any questions or concerns about these new laws.
Toxicology Corner
Part 2: Nuts and Bolts of the EPA’s Human Health Risk Assessment for New Pesticides
By Doug Van Hoewyk, PhD, BPC Pesticide Toxicologist
Last month’s “Tox Talk” discussed the importance of establishing a reference doseduring the EPA’s risk assessment of new pesticides. This month’s Tox Talk continues this discussion and focuses on how a reference dose is calculated.
A reference dose (RfD) is the concentration of a pesticide that a human can safely consume daily for 70 years without anticipated adverse health effects. For example, an RfD of 1mg/kg of body weight means that a human can orally consume up to 1 mg per a kg of body weight each day for 70 years without an appreciative risk of negative health outcomes, e.g. impairment to the kidney, liver, nervous or immune system, etc. For an adult who weighs 160 lbs, this would equate to 72.7 mg/day (160lbs/2.2 lbs in a kg=72.7mg).
Again, the RdD is calculated by the EPA during the toxicological evaluation of a pesticide, and is a non-enforceable standard for assessing risk to the human population. Last month’s tox talk revealed that the metabolite BCS-BP32808 (formed during the degradation of the fungicide fluoxapiprolin) has an Rfd of 0.05mg/kg body weight. To calculate this number, a toxicologist first has to determine the concentration at which no adverse health effects were observed in laboratory rats; this value is referred to as the NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level). In lab rats, an adverse effect (decreased motor function) was observed as low as 12mg of BCS-BP32808 per kg of body weight; this value (12 mg) is referred to the LOAEL (lowest observed adverse effect level). Decreased motor function was not observed at 5 mg, so the NOAEL was set to 5mg/kg.
Uncertainty factors are then applied to the NOAEL to adjust for the “known unknowns” when assessing risk in humans; these uncertainty factors are health protective. First, an uncertainty factor of 10 is applied when extrapolating from rats to humans. Secondly, another uncertainty factor of 10 is used to adjust for sensitive subgroups in the human population. Other uncertainty factors may be used depending on other variables; for example, in the scenario that a LOAEL is used to calculate an RfD, an additional uncertainty factor was 3-10 might be used.
In the case of the metabolite BCS-BP32808, the RfD of 0.05 mg/kg was determined by dividing the NOAEL of 5 mg by 100:
Importantly, the RfD is ultimately used to (1) set maximum contaminant levels in public drinking water and (2) allow or revoke the use of pesticides on certain crops based on potential exposure.
Enforcement Reminder
The BPC would like to take this opportunity to remind certified applicators about the Hazard Communication Standard and Community Right-to-Know. All too often the BPC receives complaints that an applicator would not provide information about the application being made. The public has the right to know about pesticide applications being conducted in their vicinity. When a member of the public inquires about a pesticide application it is the certified applicators responsibility to address their questions and provide information such as the pesticide label and/or SDS to the best of their ability. This information should be provided in a calm and professional manner. This provision is repeated throughout BPC rules as seen below.
Chapter 26: STANDARDS FOR INDOOR PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS AND NOTIFICATION FOR ALL OCCUPIED BUILDINGS EXCEPT K – 12 SCHOOLS
Section 3. Notification
D. If residents, employees, parents or guardians ask for information about a pesticide application, the applicator shall provide the information requested, including as applicable: (a) the trade name and EPA Registration number of the pesticide(s) intended to be applied; (b) the approximate date and time of the application; (c) the location of the application; (d) the re-entry interval listed on the product label; and (e) the name and phone number of the person to whom further inquiry regarding the application may be made. If requested, the applicator shall also provide a copy of the pesticide product label and Material Safety Data Sheet, and shall make reasonable efforts to fulfill any other requests for pesticide information. However, such requests for additional information will not delay nor prohibit the applicator from performing the pesticide application as scheduled.
Chapter 27: STANDARDS FOR PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS AND PUBLIC NOTIFICATION IN SCHOOLS
Section 4. Notification
A. A notice shall be included in the school’s policy manual or handbook describing the school’s IPM program including that a school integrated pest management policy exists and where it may be reviewed, that pesticides may periodically be applied in school buildings and on school grounds and that applications will be noticed in accordance with Section 4B hereof. This notice shall describe how to contact the IPM Coordinator and shall also state that the school’s IPM Policy, a copy of the Standards for Pesticide Applications and Public Notification in Schools rule (CMR 01-026 Chapter 27), and the Pest Management Activity Log, are available for review.
B. When school is in session, schools shall provide notice of pesticide applications in accordance with Sections 4B(1)and 4B(2). When school is not in session, notice shall be accomplished by posting of signs as described in Section 4B(2) of this rule.
(1) The school shall provide notification of each application not exempted by Section 3 performed inside a school building or on school grounds to all school staff and parents or guardians of students. Notices given shall state, at a minimum: (a) the trade name and EPA Registration number of the pesticide to be applied; (b) the approximate date and time of the application; (c) the location of the application; (d) the reasons for the application; and (e) the name and phone number of the person to whom further inquiry regarding the application may be made. These notices must be sent at least five days prior to the planned application.
Chapter 28: NOTIFICATION PROVISIONS FOR OUTDOOR PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS
Section 1. B. Procedure of Notification
e. If requested, the person responsible for managing the land shall make reasonable efforts to supply a copy of the MSDS(s) and/or the pesticide label(s). However such requests for additional information will not delay nor prohibit the intended pesticide application.
Section 2. D. Notification to Individuals on the Maine Pesticide Notification Registry
4. An individual on the registry who receives notification may request a copy of the pesticide product label or Material Safety Data Sheet. The person or company performing the pesticide application shall make reasonable efforts to comply with such request for additional information. However, such requests for additional information will not delay nor prohibit the person or company from performing the pesticide application as scheduled.
EPA Updates Aquatic Life Benchmarks for Registered Conventional and Antimicrobial Pesticides
Released September 4, 2025
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released an updated version of the Aquatic Life Benchmarks. These benchmarks are estimates of the concentrations below which pesticides (including conventional and antimicrobial pesticides) are not expected to present a risk of concern for freshwater organisms.
The updated Aquatic Life Benchmarks represent 782 chemicals (parent compounds and degradates) including newly registered pesticides or new values for previously registered pesticides and selected degradates. The updates include:
Benchmarks for four newly registered pesticides and their two degradates (new registrations); and
Revised benchmarks for one existing active ingredient.
EPA based these benchmarks on toxicity values from scientific studies that the agency has reviewed and used in publicly accessible ecological risk assessments in support of regulatory decisions for pesticides. For each of the pesticides listed in the Aquatic Life Benchmarks table, the table provides a link to the source documents for the benchmarks.
State, tribal, and local governments use these benchmarks in their interpretation of water quality monitoring data. Comparing a measured concentration of a pesticide in water to its Aquatic Life Benchmarks can help in interpreting monitoring data and in identifying and prioritizing monitoring sites that may require further investigation. For example, the benchmarks provide federal, state, and local agencies and other interested parties information with which to interpret water monitoring data on pesticides. International regulatory authorities and researchers also use these data in their work.
This update supersedes the previous version published August 22, 2024. EPA intends to continue to update these benchmarks annually.
EPA Releases Documents on Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes for Public Comment and Peer Review
Released August 21, 2025
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its white paper and supporting materials on genetically engineered (GE) mosquitoes for mosquito control. These materials outline considerations for the design of these insects and propose analytical methods for determining the absence of novel proteins in the saliva of GE female mosquitoes. These materials are being released for public comment and peer review by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP).
In addition to providing background and context for how GE mosquitoes function as a method of pest control, the white paper describes the contents of a draft memorandum by the agency that outlines design considerations for developers of novel GE mosquitoes used for mosquito control, as well as analytical methods that the agency finds provide robust and conservative approaches to determining the absence of novel proteins in the saliva of female GE mosquitoes. The white paper also presents three case studies, one of which is a real-world case study currently under review for registration. These case studies are expected to help refine the universe of acceptable data to support the agency’s assessment based on the FIFRA SAPs recommendations.
EPA will solicit review and input from the FIFRA SAP on the proposed methodologies. This includes specific aspects of the agency’s draft memorandum that provides considerations for developers of GE mosquitoes. Feedback from this review will be considered in the development of a final memorandum. EPA will hold a virtual FIFRA SAP meeting on Nov. 3-5, 2025. EPA will accept written comments on the white paper, charge questions, background documents, and related supporting materials for consideration by the FIFRA SAP on or before Sep. 22, 2025, via the public docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2025-0756 on regulations.gov.
To present oral comments during the virtual public meeting, registration should be completed by Oct. 27, 2025, and a written version of oral comments should be submitted by Oct. 30, 2025. For attendees not making oral comments, registration will remain open through the end of the meeting on Nov. 5, 2025.
Registration instructions for the public meeting will be announced on the FIFRA SAP website in Oct. 2025, including information about how to register to present oral comments during the virtual meeting.
For additional information on the FIFRA SAP peer review, please see the Federal Register notice or contact the Designated Federal Official, Alie Muneer at muneer.alie@epa.gov.
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