Chapter 94

94.704(1) (1) No person may act as an individual commercial applicator without a license issued by the department under this section. A license expires on December 31 annually and is not transferable. A licensee shall carry the license on his or her person at all times when acting as an individual commercial applicator. No license is required of a private applicator who applies pesticides solely as a private applicator or only on an occasional or incidental basis as a commercial applicator.

94.704(2) (2) An application for a license under this section shall be submitted on a form provided by the department and shall be accompanied by the license fee and surcharge required under sub. (3). A license application shall include all of the following information, which shall be promptly updated by the licensee in the event of any change during the license period:

94.704(2)(a) (a) The complete name, mailing address and street address of the licensee.

94.704(2)(b) (b) If the licensee is engaged in business as a sole proprietor, the licensee’s business name and address if different than the licensee’s personal name and address.

94.704(2)(c) (c) If the licensee is employed by a commercial application business, the name and address of the employing commercial application business.

94.704(2)(d) (d) Any other information reasonably required by the department for the administration of this section.

94.704(3) (3) 

94.704(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) or (bm), a person applying for an annual license under this section shall pay the following license fee and surcharge:

94.704(3)(a)1. 1. A license fee of $40, except that the license fee is $30 for the license years that begin on January 1, 1999, January 1, 2000, January 1, 2001, and January 1, 2002.

94.704(3)(a)2. 2. An agricultural chemical cleanup surcharge of $10, except as provided in s. 94.73 (15).

94.704(3)(b) (b) No license fee is required under par. (a) for a government employee or an employee of a public or private educational institution if the employee’s activities as an individual commercial applicator fall within the scope of his or her employment by the governmental unit or educational institution.

94.704(3)(bm) (bm) No license fee is required under par. (a) for an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44.

94.704(3)(c) (c)

94.704(3)(c)1. 1. The department shall deposit license fees collected under par. (a) 1. in the agrichemical management fund.

94.704(3)(c)2. 2. The department shall deposit the surcharges collected under par. (a) 2. in the agricultural chemical cleanup fund.

94.704(4) (4) No licensee under this section may use or direct the use of any pesticide unless the licensee is certified under s. 94.705 in the applicable use category.

94.704 History History: 1987 a. 27; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 209; 2013 a. 20; 2017 a. 59.

94.704 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. ATCP 29, 30, and 31 and ss. ATCP 160.19 and 160.21, Wis. adm. code.

94.705 94.705 Pesticides; certification requirements and standards.

94.705(1) (1) Certification requirements.

94.705(1)(a) (a)

94.705(1)(a)1. 1. No person may use or direct the use of a restricted-use pesticide as a private applicator unless the person is certified as a private applicator in the applicable pesticide use category under this section.

94.705(1)(a)2. 2. No person may use or direct the use of any pesticide as a commercial applicator unless the person is all of the following:

94.705(1)(a)2.a. a. Certified as a commercial applicator in the applicable pesticide use category under this section.

94.705(1)(a)2.b. b. Licensed as an individual commercial applicator under s. 94.704. This subd. 2. b. does not apply to a private applicator who uses or directs the use of a pesticide as a commercial applicator on an occasional or incidental basis only.

94.705(1)(b) (b) Applications for certification shall be submitted on forms prescribed by the department and shall specify the category of pesticide use and application for which application for certification is made. Certifications shall be valid for a period of 5 years from date of issuance or renewal, unless terminated or suspended by the department for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of its issuance or for violation of ss. 94.67 to 94.71 or rules or orders issued under ss. 94.67 to 94.71. Certifications may be changed or amended during the 5-year period for which issued by the addition of other categories of pesticide use and application for which the applicator was not certified at the beginning of the certification period, but all the changes or amendments shall expire concurrently with the end of the 5-year certification period.

94.705(1)(c) (c) A certified private applicator may be granted an additional 5 years of certification upon the expiration of his or her certification, under one of the certification options under sub. (5). A certified commercial applicator may be granted an additional 5 years of certification upon the expiration of his or her certification, subject to a written examination approved by the department.

94.705(1)(d) (d) Except as provided under sub. (4), no commercial applicator may be certified except upon satisfactory completion of a written examination. The examination shall be designed to test the applicant’s competency in each category of pesticide use for which the applicant seeks certification.

94.705(2) (2) Certification standards. The department shall, by rule, adopt standards for the training and certification of private and commercial applicators, at least equal to but not to exceed federal standards adopted under the federal act. In the adoption of the standards, separate categories of pesticide use and application may be established for certification purposes depending on the specific types of pesticides used, the purposes for which they are used, types of equipment required in their application, the degree of knowledge and skill required and other factors which may warrant the creation of different categories. The standards shall provide that individuals to be certified must be competent with respect to the use and application of pesticides in the various categories of pesticide use and application for which certification is desired. For commercial applicators, competence in the use and handling of pesticides shall be determined on the basis of written examinations.

94.705(2m) (2m) Military instruction. Any relevant training that an applicant for certification under this section has obtained in connection with any military service, as defined in s. 111.32 (12g), counts toward satisfying the requirements for training for certification under this section if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the training obtained by the applicant is substantially equivalent to the training required for certification.

94.705(3) (3) Records; reports. Certified commercial applicators, including nonresident commercial applicators, shall maintain records of amounts, dates, types, places and uses of all pesticides as prescribed by the department. Records shall be kept for 2 years and shall be open to and available for inspection at all reasonable times by the department or cooperating governmental enforcement agencies.

94.705(4) (4) Certification of nonresidents.

94.705(4)(a) (a) The department may, without examination or training in this state, certify a nonresident to use or direct the use of pesticides in a specific pesticide use category if the nonresident meets all of the following requirements:

94.705(4)(a)1. 1. The person is certified to use pesticides, in the same or similar pesticide use category, under laws or programs in the person’s state of residence which have requirements for certification equivalent to this section and ss. 94.703 and 94.704 and the rules under this section and ss. 94.703 and 94.704. In order to be certified without examination as a commercial applicator in this state, the person must be certified as a commercial applicator in the person’s state of residence.

94.705(4)(a)2. 2. The person’s license or certification in the state of residence has not been denied, suspended or revoked under the federal act or by the state of residence.

94.705(4)(b) (b) An application for nonresident certification under par. (a) shall be made on a form provided by the department. The department may require an applicant to submit any information that is reasonably necessary for the administration of this subsection. An application under this subsection shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $75, except that no fee is required for the certification of a nonresident as a private applicator. The department shall deposit the fees collected under this paragraph in the agrichemical management fund.

94.705(4)(c) (c) A certification issued under this subsection expires on December 31 of the year of issuance and is not transferable. If the holder of a nonresident certification becomes a resident of this state, the nonresident certification may not be renewed after its expiration date.

94.705(5) (5) Private applicators. The department shall certify resident private applicators to use restricted-use pesticides in any of the following ways, as it deems appropriate:

94.705(5)(a) (a) Certification by training session. A private applicator may attend a pesticide applicator training session approved by the department. The training shall cover all areas of competency necessary to comply with standards under the federal act. No person seeking certification under this paragraph may be required to take a written examination in order to obtain certification. Upon successful completion of the training session the applicator shall be granted certification for 5 years.

94.705(5)(b) (b) Certification by examination. A private applicator may take a written examination approved by the department including all areas of competency necessary to comply with the federal act. Certification for 5 years shall be granted to the applicator upon successful completion of the examination. A private applicator may engage in a self-study program using training materials available in training sessions under par. (a). Written examinations shall be given at a designated department office, county extension office or at a site approved by the department.

94.705(5)(c) (c) Certification for emergency use. A person may apply for an emergency use certification. Only one emergency use certification shall be granted to a person. Thereafter, certification under par. (a) or (b) is necessary. The department shall conduct a specific evaluation of the applicant’s ability to use and apply the pesticide safely and correctly and make any other evaluations deemed necessary by the department. The department shall notify the dealer by telephone that the applicant has been granted an emergency use certification. Written notice of the applicant’s responsibility and liability shall be sent by the department to the dealer and the applicant. This certification shall be valid for a onetime specific use only. The department’s evaluation shall be conducted at a designated department office, any University of Wisconsin-Extension office, or any other site approved by the department.

94.705(5)(d) (d) Certification for persons of limited English language ability. Persons of limited English language ability shall receive the training necessary to permit them to use and apply restricted-use pesticides. The department shall conduct an oral evaluation of each person to determine competency. Certification under this paragraph shall be required for use of each restricted-use pesticide. Each certificate shall state the specific restricted-use pesticide the person is certified to use or apply.

94.705 History History: 1977 c. 106; 1987 a. 27 ss. 1693cz to 1693ds, 1693dz; 1993 a. 16, 27; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 103; 2011 a. 120.

94.705 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. ATCP 29, 30, and 31 and ss. ATCP 160.19 and 160.21, Wis. adm. code.

94.707 94.707 Distribution and sale of certain pesticides.

94.707(1) (1) Prohibition. No person may distribute, sell, offer for sale or use any pesticide product containing any of the following active ingredients:

94.707(1)(a) (a) 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T).

94.707(1)(b) (b) 2-(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy) propionic acid (silvex).

94.707(1)(c) (c) Aldrin.

94.707(1)(d) (d) Chlordane.

94.707(1)(e) (e) Dieldrin.

94.707(1)(f) (f) Heptachlor.

94.707(1m) (1m) Use of daminozide on food-producing plants prohibited. No person may distribute, sell, offer for sale or use any pesticide product containing daminozide as an active ingredient and intended for use on a food-producing plant.

94.707(2) (2) Exemption. The prohibition under sub. (1) does not apply to a person using or possessing a pesticide product containing any active ingredient under sub. (1) (a) to (f) according to the terms and conditions of an experimental use permit issued under the federal act or rules of the department.

94.707(3) (3) Existing stocks.

94.707(3)(a) (a) No later than 6 months after the applicable date under par. (d), any person, except a dealer or distributor, who owned any quantity of a pesticide listed in sub. (1m) or containing an active ingredient listed in sub. (1) (c) to (f) on the applicable date under par. (d) shall return or deliver all of that pesticide to the manufacturer or to the dealer or distributor from whom he or she purchased the pesticide.

94.707(3)(b) (b) No later than one year after the applicable date under par. (d), any dealer or distributor who owned any amount of a pesticide listed in sub. (1m) or containing an active ingredient listed in sub. (1) (c) to (f) on the applicable date under par. (d) or who received any such pesticide under par. (a) shall return or deliver all of that pesticide to the manufacturer.

94.707(3)(c) (c) Within 30 days after receiving any pesticide under par. (a) or (b), a dealer, distributor or manufacturer shall pay the person from whom the pesticide was received the amount of money which that dealer, distributor or manufacturer charged that person for the quantity of pesticide received. No payment under this paragraph may exceed the fair market value of the pesticide immediately before the applicable date under par. (d).

94.707(3)(d) (d) The applicable dates for sub. (3) are the following:

94.707(3)(d)1. 1. For pesticide products containing the ingredients under sub. (1) (c) to (f), May 3, 1988.

94.707(3)(d)2. 2. For pesticide products containing the ingredient under sub. (1m), February 15, 1990.

94.707 History History: 1983 a. 397; 1987 a. 357; 1989 a. 52.

94.707 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. ATCP 29, 30, and 31 and ss. ATCP 160.19 and 160.21, Wis. adm. code.

94.708 94.708 Pesticides; sale and use to control bats.

94.708(1) (1) Definition. As used in this section, “bat control purposes” means for the purpose of killing, injuring, repelling or otherwise affecting the behavior of bats.

94.708(2) (2) Sale prohibited. Except as provided under sub. (4), no person may sell, hold for sale or distribute any pesticide except naphthalene for bat control purposes to a person in this state. No dealer may advertise in this state or recommend any pesticide for bat control purposes to a person in this state.

94.708(3) (3) Use prohibited. Except as provided under sub. (4), no person may use any pesticide except naphthalene for bat control purposes.

94.708(4) (4) Exception. The department shall promulgate rules establishing standards for the sale, advertisement and use of pesticides for emergency bat control. The department may issue a permit authorizing the use of a pesticide in accordance with the rules that it promulgates only in the case of an individual bat colony after a determination that there exists an outbreak of rabies that threatens public health or another situation where the existence of a colony of bats threatens the health or welfare of any person. The department may not base its determination on an isolated individual instance of a rabid bat.

94.708 History History: 1983 a. 353; 1997 a. 27.

94.708 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. ATCP 29, 30, and 31 and ss. ATCP 160.19 and 160.21, Wis. adm. code.

94.709 94.709 Distribution and sale of DDT prohibited.

94.709(1) (1) No person shall distribute, sell, offer for sale or use the chemical compound DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) or any of its isomers except as provided in this section. In sub. (2) “DDT” includes compounds isomeric with DDT.

94.709(2) (2) 

94.709(2)(a) (a) In the event of the outbreak of an epidemic disease of humans or animals spread by insects which it is known can be controlled by DDT but cannot be adequately controlled by any other known pesticide, the department may authorize the use of DDT in controlling the epidemic upon a finding that:

94.709(2)(a)1. 1. A serious epidemic disease of humans or animals exists;

94.709(2)(a)2. 2. The disease is likely to spread rapidly unless insects which spread the disease are controlled; and

94.709(2)(a)3. 3. The only effective means of control is DDT.

94.709(2)(b) (b) In the event of the outbreak of a plant disease of epidemic proportions which threatens a significant portion of the affected crop and which is caused or spread by an insect which it is known can be controlled by DDT but cannot be adequately controlled by any other known pesticide, the department may authorize the use of DDT in controlling the epidemic upon a finding that:

94.709(2)(b)1. 1. An epidemic plant disease exists;

94.709(2)(b)2. 2. The disease threatens a significant portion of the affected crop; and

94.709(2)(b)3. 3. The only effective means of control is DDT.

94.709(2)(c) (c) The department also may authorize the use of DDT or its isomers or metabolites for specified research by educational institutions if it finds that no ecologically significant residues of DDT or its isomers or metabolites will be allowed to escape into the environment.

94.709 History History: 1971 c. 40 s. 93; 1977 c. 203; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 111 ss. 18 to 24; Stats. 1997 s. 94.709.

94.709 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. ATCP 29, 30, and 31 and ss. ATCP 160.19 and 160.21, Wis. adm. code.

94.71 94.71 Pesticides; penalties; enforcement.

94.71(1) (1) Penalties.

94.71(1)(a) (a)

94.71(1)(a)1. 1. Any person who violates ss. 94.67 to 94.71 or any rules or orders issued under ss. 94.67 to 94.71 shall forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $500 for the first violation and not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 for any subsequent violation within 5 years.

94.71(1)(a)2. 2. Any commercial applicator, dealer or distributor who knowingly violates any provision of ss. 94.67 to 94.71 or any rules or orders issued under ss. 94.67 to 94.71 may be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than one year in the county jail or both. Other persons, including private applicators who knowingly violate ss. 94.67 to 94.71 or any rules or orders issued under ss. 94.67 to 94.71 may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 days or both.