Now is the time to Reduce Fees – COMMENT NOW

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking to lower fees paid by most persons involved with pesticides:

Here is the page for entering comments: Virginia Regulatory Town Hall List Comments

The proposed changes are highlighted below. Full details are at the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall (Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Stage).

The public comment period will open on November 18 and will remain open until December 18.

If approved, the new fees will take effect January 2, 2025.

Any person applying for a certificate as a commercial applicator shall pay to the department an initial nonrefundable certificate fee of $100 $25. All certificates shall expire on June 30 in the second year after issuance unless suspended or revoked for cause. A certificate not suspended or revoked for cause will be renewed upon receipt of an application for renewal submitted by June 30. If the certificate is not renewed within 60 days following the expiration of the certificate, then such certificate holder shall be required to take another examination. The fee for this reexamination or for any commercial applicator reexamination pursuant to subsection C of § 3.2-3930 of the Code of Virginia shall be $100 $25 and shall be nonrefundable. Any person applying to add a category or subcategory to his a certificate shall pay to the department a nonrefundable fee of $35 $25. Federal, state, and local government employees certified to use, or supervise the use of, pesticides in government programs shall be exempt from any certification fees.

Any person applying for a certificate as a registered technician shall pay to the department an initial nonrefundable certificate fee of $50 $25. All certificates shall expire on June 30 in the second year after issuance unless suspended or revoked for cause. A certificate not suspended or revoked for cause will be renewed upon receipt of an application for renewal submitted by June 30. If the certificate is not renewed within 60 days following the expiration of the certificate, then such certificate holder shall be required to take another examination. The fee for this reexamination pursuant to subsection C of § 3.2-3930 of the Code of Virginia shall be $50 $25 and shall be nonrefundable. Federal, state, and local government employees certified to use pesticides in government programs shall be exempt from any certification fees.

Any pesticide business that distributes, stores, sells, recommends for use, mixes, or applies pesticides shall pay a nonrefundable annual pesticide business licensing fee of $150 $75 for each location or outlet that it operates. All business licenses will expire at midnight on March 31 of each year unless suspended or revoked for cause. If a business license is not suspended or revoked for cause, it will be renewed upon payment of the annual fee. If any person operating as a pesticide business fails to apply for renewal of a pesticide business license by COB March 31, the applicant, as a condition of renewal, shall pay a late license fee of 20% of the licensing fee in addition to that fee. Merchants of limited quantities of nonrestricted use pesticides, including grocery stores, convenience stores, drug stores, veterinarians, and other businesses that sell pesticides primarily for limited household use, shall be exempt from the business license requirement.