Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 921 | Pesticides
Section 921.18 | Director of Agriculture - Powers and Duties.

Effective: July 1, 2004
Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 217 - 124th General Assembly
(A) The director of agriculture may:
(1) In order to determine compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under it, enter any public or private premises or transport vehicles during regular business hours to do any or all of the following:
(a) Inspect and copy books, pesticide application records, contracts related to pesticide business activities, and financial responsibility documents;
(b) Inspect the storage or disposal of pesticides;
(c) Inspect and sample pesticides in storage or in use;
(d) Inspect equipment or devices used to apply pesticides;
(e) Inspect storage facilities and sites;
(f) Inspect production areas of persons that manufacture pesticides for commercial purposes.
(2) Enter upon any public or private premises at any time, when or where pesticides are being applied to determine if the applicator is or should be licensed or if proper notice has been given before pesticide application, and to collect samples of pesticides being applied or available for use;
(3) Enter upon any public or private premises at reasonable hours to inspect any property thereon or to collect samples of vegetation or animal life, water, soil, or other matter, in order to determine residue levels, efficacy of application, or adverse effects of application, drift, or spillage;
(4) Should the director be denied access to any premises where such access is sought for the purposes set forth in this section, apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for a search warrant authorizing access to such land for those purposes. The court may, upon such application, issue the search warrant for the purposes requested.
(B) When the director or the director's authorized agent observes, or has reasonable cause to believe that a piece of equipment used by a commercial applicator, a private applicator, or any other individual requires calibration, adjustment, or repair to enable it to perform satisfactorily, the director may require such adjustment to be made immediately or issue a "stop operation" order pending repair to the equipment and the director may require a demonstration of it before cancellation or withdrawal of the stop operation order.
(C) The director or the director's authorized agent may:
(1) Issue an order to the owner or custodian of any lot of pesticide or a device requiring it to be held at a designated place when the director or the director's authorized agent has reasonable cause to believe that the pesticide or device has been distributed, stored, transported, or used in violation of this chapter, or any rule adopted thereunder. The pesticide or device shall be held until a release in writing is issued by the director, the director's authorized agent, or a court order. No release shall be issued until this chapter and the rules adopted thereunder are complied with.
(2) If the owner or custodian is not available for service of the order upon the owner or custodian, attach the order to the pesticide or device and notify the owner or custodian, and the registrant.
(D)(1) The director shall establish standards governing the development and implementation of integrated pest management practices that are designed to prevent unreasonable adverse effects on human health and the environment.
(2) The director may enter into cooperative agreements with other state agencies for the implementation of voluntary or mandatory integrated pest management practices.