Mission, Goals & Objectives

AAPCO

Who We Are

 The Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO) members represent  the officials charged by law with the execution of the state, territorial, provincial, and federal laws in the United States, including all its territories (hereafter referred to as states), and in Canada regulating the production, labeling, distribution, sale, use, and disposal of pesticides.

 Background

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 existing state pesticide programs. This led to the organization of AAPCO, which enabled the states to cooperatively focus on mutual regulatory concerns, and to seek uniformity as much as possible in administering their regulatory programs. The formation of AAPCO also increased coordination when working with the federal pesticide regulatory agency, which at that time was the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Mission

Our mission is to represent states in the development, implementation, and communication of sound public policies and programs related to the sale, use, transport, and disposal of pesticides.

Goals and Objectives

  • Provide a national forum to identify pesticide regulatory issues, solicit input, and provide solutions through policies, position papers, and lobbying activities.
  • When it is feasible, encourage consistency and uniformity among the states in the implementation of their pesticide regulatory programs.
  • 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)
    • Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials (ASPCRO)
    • Certification and Training Assessment Group (CTAG)
    • Tribal Pesticide Program Council (TPPC)
    • Other Federal, State, and Local Governments, and
    • Other organizations and stakeholders.
  • Identify priorities and advocates for adequate EPA program funding of states.  EPA funds state pesticide regulatory programs primarily through cooperative agreements that help implement federal pesticide laws, priorities, and programs.
  • 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, and solicit input and participation from a wide range of lead agencies for pesticide regulation.
  • Encourage the development of pesticide labels that have directions for use that are stated in terms which can be easily read and understood by the average person likely to use or to supervise the use of the pesticide; and when followed, are adequate to protect applicators, workers and the public from personal injury, and to prevent unreasonable adverse effects on the environment.
  • Other objectives are to promote uniform and effective legislation, 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 clear, concise and accurate 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.

Organizational Structure

The officers of AAPCO 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 serve successive terms; however, no two members can represent the same state, territory, or province.

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.

When states acquired primacy for pesticide regulation in the 1970’s, there was an increased volume of federal regulatory responsibilities. It became apparent to state officials and to EPA that there needed to be a mechanism for more effective and systematic communication. A cooperative effort by state and EPA officials led to establishing the States FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group (SFIREG) as a permanent standing committee of AAPCO in 1978.

SFIREG consists of ten state pesticide regulatory officials (one from each EPA region and elected by the states in the region). SFIREG meets 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.

Meetings and Annual Conference

The AAPCO Board of Directors meets annually with members in the spring in the Washington, DC area. The spring meeting for AAPCO members is on a Sunday, followed by a 2.5 day conference. During the broadly attended conference, there are extensive discussions by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials on 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. State concerns and priorities are discussed at length. 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.