Arizona Gov. Approves Bill Exempting Weed Control

PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano signed into law SB 1221, a bill exempting landscapers and others who use commonly available herbicides to kill weeds from licensing requirements imposed on the commercial pest control industry.

The bill is a reaction to moves by the state Structural Pest Control Commission to crack down on unlicensed use of herbicides by landscapers and others without pest-control licenses. Under the bill, people who conduct lawn, garden, shrub or tree maintenance and who use herbicides for weed control do not have to obtain a pest control license from the state. However, a person exempted by the measure has to keep records on herbicde applications and also provide them to customers.

Gene Harrington, manager of goverment affairs, National Pest Management Association, told PCT that although weed control is not a core service offering for most PCOs, there is concern about untrained, unlicensed people applying pesticides.

"It’s not a good development regardless of whether or not PCOs are competing with these untrained, unlicensed people," Harrington said. "Whether (PCOs) like it or not these people will be representing the industry in one form or another. The misuse of pesticides by these people could further tarnish the industry’s reputation and could threaten the future availability of some products."

Additional source: Arizona Republic