12.1.1 Exemptions from Pesticide Certification

As per state and federal regulations, a number of exemptions from pesticide certification requirements exist.

These exemptions include:

1. Licensed veterinarians, as well as licensed veterinary technicians, interns, residents, and veterinary students working under the direct supervision of a veterinarian in a veterinary facility (any building operated by the College of Veterinary Medicine) are exempt from the certification requirement when engaged in the use of general-use pesticides. 
2. Small laboratory quantities of pesticides used for analysis and treatment of samples in a laboratory and in an environmentally non-dispersive manner (e.g., microgram or gram quantities used inside a fume hood, mixed into media, etc.) are exempt from policy requirements. As with all other chemical use in the laboratory, use of laboratory quantity pesticides is regulated by the OSHA Laboratory Standard and other appropriate rules and regulations. 
3. Testing of materials for pesticide efficacy, toxicity, or other properties could also be exempted - for clarification, contact the Occupational and Environmental Health Program, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at 607-255-0485, or refer to the federal regulation: 40 CFR part 172.3. 
4. Teaching/demonstration of pesticide application(s), as well as recommendation of pesticide application or use is exempted from the certification requirements. However, the individual engaged in such activities is responsible for ensuring that these activities are compliant with federal, state, and local pesticide laws and regulations.

For more information regarding pesticide use requirements and exemptions, please refer to the Cornell University Health and Safety Policy 8.6 or contact the CALS Occupational and Environmental Health Program at pesticides@cornell.edu, or 607-255-0485, or visit the CALS Pesticide Webpage.