H-1353

AN ACT Relating to the registration of plant protection products for minor uses; adding new sections to chapter 15.58 RCW; making an appropriation; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 15.58 RCW to read as follows:

The legislature finds that agriculture is the largest industry in the state of Washington largely due to the tremendous diversity of agricultural crops produced in the state. The tremendous public benefit from this diversity takes many forms, including greater selection and quality of foods for consumers. This crop diversity is heavily reliant on the ability of producers to effectively control pests. While new technologies are being developed to aid in pest control, their effectiveness has yet to be proven, and immediate needs can only be met through the use of plant protection products.

The legislature further finds that in order to preserve the agricultural diversity of the state and the availability of abundant, high quality food for consumers, it is vital that the registration and production of plant protection products for minor uses be maintained. The high cost of developing the necessary scientific information to support registration for these products for minor uses has caused many manufacturers to discontinue their involvement in these product development areas. As a result, growers who depend on the products for minor uses must now attempt to produce the necessary scientific information for product registration through other means to maintain an adequate array of products to produce the high quality crops demanded by processors and the consuming public. The registration procedure is so complex that it is beyond the ability of most small grower organizations to complete without technical assistance.

The purpose of this chapter is to enable the various agencies involved in pesticide registration to coordinate their activities to ensure the continued availability of plant protection products for minor uses. This coordination will promote the public welfare of the state of Washington by assuring the viability of farm operations, preventing the erosion of the tax base in rural areas, and enhancing the financial stability of the agricultural industry.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 15.58 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The minor uses advisory committee is created in the department. The committee shall consist of the coordinator of the interregional project number 4 program at Washington State University, who shall be a permanent member, and six members appointed by the director.

(2) The director shall make appointments to the advisory committee so that the committee is representative of affected segments of agriculture.

(3) Each appointed member shall serve a term of three years, and one-third shall be appointed every year. The entire committee shall be appointed the first year: One-third for a term of one year, one-third for a term of two years, and one-third for a term of three years. A member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term.

(4) The committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson or the director. A majority of the members present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum, and a majority vote of the quorum at any meeting shall constitute an official act of the committee. At the first meeting of each calendar year, the committee shall select a chairperson.

(5) The dean of the college of agriculture of Washington State University and the director, or their representatives, shall be ex officio members without the right to vote.

(6) No person appointed to the minor uses advisory committee shall receive a salary or other compensation as a member of the committee. Each member shall receive travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 for each day spent in actual attendance at or traveling to and from meetings of the committee or special assignments for the committee.

(7) The committee shall:

(a) Advise the department in the administration of this chapter as it relates to minor use registrations;

(b) Advise the department on ways to track the availability of effective pest control methods for minor crops or for any crops suffering unique conditions that require the minor use of plant protection products, and provide information to grower organizations;

(c) Cooperate with the United States department of agriculture's interregional project number 4 and the United States environmental protection agency in obtaining federal registrations of plant protection products for minor uses; and

(d) Maintain close contact between the department and agricultural producers regarding the need for research to support registration of plant protection products for minor uses.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 15.58 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall develop a program to provide assistance and information on the registration and reregistration process for pesticides under the federal insecticide, fungicide and rodenticide act and the 1988 amendments to the act to interested grower organizations. The department, in consultation with the minor uses advisory committee established under section 2 of this act, shall:

(1) Track the availability of effective pest control methods for the various minor crops produced in this state in addition to any crops suffering unique conditions that require the minor use of plant protection products;

(2) Provide information to grower organizations in the form of seminars or informational meetings and brochures. The information supplied shall include:

(a) The environmental protection agency's registration and reregistration processes; and

(b) Field and laboratory testing programs and procedures; and

(3) Provide technical and financial assistance to minor use research efforts at Washington State University.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This act shall cease to exist April 1, 1995, unless extended by law for an additional fixed period of time.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The sum of one hundred sixty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of agriculture for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, for the purposes of administering this act.