13127. (a) Not later than December 31, 1985, the department shall identify 200 pesticide active ingredients which the department determines have the most significant data gaps and widespread use and which are suspected to be hazardous to people. Not later than 30 days after the report issued pursuant to former Section 13125, as added by Chapter 669 of the Statutes of 1984, the department shall notify each registrant of a pesticide product containing any of the identified 200 pesticide active ingredients of the applicable data gap required to be filled pursuant to this section.
(b) Not later than December 31, 1985, the department shall also adopt a timetable for the filling of all data gaps on all pesticide active ingredients, other than those identified by the department pursuant to subdivision (a), which are currently registered or licensed in California. The department shall notify registrants of the applicable data gaps and the scheduled time to initiate and complete studies as provided in the timetable.
(c) (1) Not later than September 1, 1986, the department shall determine whether a test has been initiated to fill each of the data gaps for each pesticide active ingredient identified in subdivision (a). If no test has been initiated, the department shall fill data gaps in accordance with procedures provided in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Section 136a of Title 7 of the United States Code. In order to carry out this section, the director has the same authority to require information from registrants of active pesticide ingredients and to suspend registration that the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency has pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Section 136a of Title 7 of the United States Code. If a hearing is requested regarding the proposed suspension of registration, it shall be conducted pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. On or before July 1, 1986, the director shall, by regulation, prescribe procedures for resolving disputes or funding the filling of data gaps. The procedures may include mediation and arbitration. The arbitration procedures, insofar as practical, shall be consistent with the federal act, or otherwise shall be in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules established by the American Arbitration Association. The procedures shall be established so as to resolve any dispute within the timetable established in subdivision (a).
(2) The department shall also obtain the data which is identified in subdivision (b), according to the timetable and procedures specified in this section.
(d) The director shall review the timetable established by the Environmental Protection Agency for the accelerated registration program under amendments effective in 1989 to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 136 et seq.).
(e) (1) This section does not apply to any product which the director determines has limited use or that substantial economic hardship would result to users due to unavailability of the product and there is not significant exposure to the public or workers and the product is otherwise in compliance with federal law.
(2) The director may not, pursuant to this subdivision, exempt all pesticide products containing the same pesticide active ingredient unless it is determined that the pesticide active ingredient has only limited use, there is insignificant exposure to workers or the public, and the products are otherwise in compliance with federal law. Any exemption issued pursuant to this paragraph shall expire at the end of three years after it is issued.
(f) (1) Whenever the director exercises the authority provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), he or she shall give public notice of the action stating the reasons for exempting the pesticide product from the data requirements of this article. Copies of this notice shall be provided to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.
(2) Whenever the director acts pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e), the director shall furnish not less than 30 days’ public notice of the proposed action, stating the reasons for exempting the pesticide product from the data requirements of this article and allowing public comment thereon. Copies of the notice and the final decision shall be provided to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 193, Sec. 27. Effective January 1, 2005.)