FAIRFAX, Va, — In recent years, many pest control companies have gone paperless in order to save costs, increase efficiencies and promote professionalism.

A barrier PCOs have run into is that some states mandate they provide a hard copy consumer information sheet (e.g., pesticide records, use reports, consumer info sheets, etc. ) at the time of service, or after service. “A lot of these requirements were written in the 1970s and 1980s, before people could imagine the technology of today,” said Gene Harrington, director of government affairs for the National Pest Management Association.

The end result is that many companies have invested large sums of money to go paperless, yet they are unable to do so completely, because the state(s) they operate in have mandated they provide hard copies. Some companies have asked their state regulatory authority for clarification, but NPMA and its members believe this issue needs addressed federally.

At Legislative Day 2013, attendees will be seeking support from federal lawmakers for legislation that would permit — not mandate — pest control operators to convey and retain pesticide records, use reports, consumer info sheets or others, electronically.

For more information about Legislative Day visit www.npmapestworld.org.