Under FIFRA, when is it permissible to apply a pesticide to control a pest not on the label?

• A. The crop or site is not listed on the label
• B. The specific crop or site is listed on the label
• C. You may apply to any crop if the pesticide is approved
• D. You must obtain a special permit from EPA

Answer: (B)

Under FIFRA, the pesticide label is the legal instruction for how a product may be used. You may only apply a pesticide on crops or sites that are specifically listed on the label, and you must follow the label’s directions for that crop/site, including which pests are allowed to be controlled there. If the crop or site is listed on the label, the use is registered for that crop/site, within the label’s specified pest targets and application parameters. If the pest you want to control isn’t listed for that crop/site on the label, the use isn’t permitted. The idea here is that labeling authority, not broader judgment, governs whether a pesticide can be applied.