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Mission Statement

Our mission is to represent State Pesticide Control Officials in the development, implementation, and communication of sound public policies and programs related to the sale, application, transport, and disposal of pesticides.

Objectives
  • Provide a national forum to identify pesticide regulatory issues, solicit input, and provide solutions through policies, position papers, and lobbying activities.
     
  • Build partnerships and promote effective communication between AAPCO and the:
  • U.S. Congress,
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"),
  • National Association of State Departments of Agriculture ("NASDA"),
  • American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators ("AAPSE"),
  • Tribal Pesticide Program Council ("TPPC"), and;
  • Other Federal, State, and Local Governments,
  • Other organizations and stakeholders.
     
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  • Provide technical support to AAPCO members, the U.S. Congress, EPA, NASDA, AAPSE, TPPC, other Federal, State, and local governments, and other organizations and stakeholders on pesticide regulatory programs.
     
  • Support Federal and State pesticide policies and programs that protect human health and the environment, while acknowledging the important benefits of pesticide use (including consumer protection and the continued ability to secure high quality food, feed and fiber).
     
  • Disseminate timely and useful information on relevant state and national pesticide regulatory activities.
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    The Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO) was formed in 1947, the same year that Congress enacted the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

    With consideration of the proposed federal pesticide legislation by Congress in 1946-47, it became clear to state pesticide regulatory officials that the new legislation would have a significant impact on the existing state pesticide programs. This led to organization of AAPCO to enable the states to cooperate with one another in dealing with mutual regulatory problems, seeking uniformity as much as possible in administering their regulatory programs and working with the federal pesticide regulatory agency then in the U.S. Department of Agriculture to share their knowledge and experience.

    Members of AAPCO consist essentially of state and federal pesticide regulatory officials; however, federal and provincial Canadian officials are eligible for membership, as are officials of all North American countries, including heads of experiment stations, research workers, Departments of Agriculture, and other governmental officials with responsibility for examination of pesticides. Each state regulatory agency designates one member as its voting representative, who is entitled to vote for election of officers and directors and other matters relating to the management of the Association.

    The officers of the Association consist of the President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Board of Directors consists of the President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, immediate past President, SFIREG Chairman, and three other members elected at the annual meeting for one year terms. The elected member may service successive terms; however, no two members can represent the same state, province, or federal agency.

    A primary goal of AAPCO is to encourage uniformity among the states in their pesticide regulatory programs. It is recognized that states cannot have identical programs due to wide differences in population, geographic area, extent of agriculture, climate, and other features which influence use of pesticides and political attitudes.

    Other objectives are to promote uniform and effective legislations, definitions, regulations and enforcement; to encourage and sponsor the adoption of the best techniques for analysis of pesticides; to develop sound inspection procedures; to promote adequate labeling and safe use of pesticides; to provide opportunities for exchange of information and cooperative study of problems facing members of the Association; and to cooperate with industry to promote the usefulness and effectiveness of pesticide products.

    The AAPCO Official Publication contains a list of the principal regulatory officials with their addresses and telephone numbers in each state. Copies of the Official Publication are available from the AAPCO Secretary. Currently the cost is $30 per copy.

    AAPCO meets annually in the spring in the Washington, DC area. The spring meeting lasts three days and includes extensive discussions by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials of pesticide registration matters, enforcement, applicator training and certification, pesticide classification, priorities in the state programs, pesticide tolerances, and related issues. Officials of other federal agencies having pesticide responsibilities are usually present, including representatives of the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Department of Interior and others. A portion of one day's program is set aside to permit members of the pesticide industry to bring up regulatory issues or problems they want to discuss.

    Since the Association meets only once a year, and since there evolved a greater delegation of federal regulatory responsibilities to the states in the 1970's, it became apparent to the state officials and to the EPA there was need for a better and more systematic means of communication. A cooperative effort by state and EPA officials led to establishing the States FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group (SFIREG) in 1978.

    SFIREG consists of ten state pesticide regulatory officials (one from each EPA region and elected by the states in the region) who meet periodically, with EPA pesticide officials, to comment on proposed regulations, policies, or any other matter impacting on the states regulatory programs.

    See the SFIREG page for a more complete description of the structure and function of this group.



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