Senate approves legislation updating Oklahoma’s pesticide law

The Senate has approved legislation that would exclude pheromone lures, traps and monitoring system components and equipment from requiring a “registration for use” license under Oklahoma’s Combined Pesticide Law. 

Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, authored Senate Bill 1272 and said the measure is necessary to bring state law in line with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.

“The EPA already exempts pheromone monitoring systems from device or pesticide registration because these systems are not pesticides,” Bergstrom said. “Pheromones are comprised of components that are non-toxic, organic and natural. These devices actually offset pesticide usage in many agricultural and commercial settings, and they are not required to register with the EPA, so we shouldn’t require them to register with the state.”

Bergstrom said cutting red tape on an Oklahoma industry like this could attract more agricultural technology businesses to settle in the state.

“Highly regulated states, such as California, do not require the registration of these types of devices,” Bergstrom said. “We need to update outdated regulations like these in all areas of Oklahoma business. We must modernize our laws in order to be a leader in every area we can, including this cutting-edge agricultural technology.”

For more information, contact:

Sen. Micheal Bergstrom at 405-521-5561, or email Micheal.Bergstrom@oksenate.gov. 

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