The Bureau of Pesticide Management regulates the registration, application, use, distribution, and sale of pesticides, oversees the certification and supervision of pesticide applicators, promotes Integrated Pest Management, provides compliance assistance and public outreach activities, and enforces portions of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL).
DEC’s NYSPAD (New York State Pesticide Administration Database) can be used to search and download information regarding several pesticide topics, including:
- Pesticide Products and Labels
- Pesticide Applicators and Technicians
- Businesses and Agencies that Apply Pesticides
- Pesticide Certification Courses and Exams
- Dealers of Restricted Use Pesticides
Please click on the icon below to enter the NYSPAD search database.
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Title 13 Neonicotinoids Course Now Available through Cornell
Amendments to Article 33 of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL), referred to as the “Birds and Bees Protection Act”, now require all applicators who are using certain neonicotinoid pesticides to take a NYSDEC approved neonicotinoid course annually prior to the application of these pesticide products. Applicators must maintain a record of this course for three years.
Effective immediately, this course requirement applies to any applicator using neonicotinoids containing the active ingredients clothianidin and dinotefuran for:
- Treatment against invasive species affecting woody plants; or
- An application that has been approved to address an environmental emergency pursuant to 1301.13(b)(1) of the ECL.
Additionally, beginning on December 31, 2026, any applicator with an exemption listed above who will be using a pesticide containing imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and acetamiprid, will need to abide by the course requirements of the Birds and Bees Protection Act.
To find a NYSDEC-approved neonicotinoid course, you can utilize the Bureau of Pesticides Management information portal, NYSPAD. When searching for this course in the database, make sure that Distance Learning is selected as “Yes”. The course offered is called Introductions to Neonicotinoid Insecticides, course ID NY-25-435354. This course covers topics including, the benefits of neonicotinoid insecticides, the identification of non-target risks with these insecticides, and the identification of alternatives to neonicotinoids.
For questions regarding these amendments to the ECL, please contact the Bureau of Pesticides Management at: 518-402-8727 or [email protected].
New Neonicotinoid Legislation Passes in New York State
Article 33 of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) was amended in 2023 and early 2024 to prohibit the use of certain neonicotinoid pesticides on outdoor ornamental plants and turf beginning on December 31, 2024, for some products, followed by others on December 31, 2026. In addition, Article 37 of the ECL was amended to prohibit the sale, offer for sale or use, or distribution within the state any corn, soybean, or wheat seeds coated or treated with pesticides containing clothianidin, imidacloprid, or thiamethoxam on January 1, 2029. These amendments to the ECL have been referred to as the “Birds and Bees Protection Act”.
Beginning December 31, 2024, Article 33 (ECL 33-1301(13)) prohibits the treatment of outdoor ornamental plants and turf with pesticide products containing clothianidin or dinotefuran and beginning December 31, 2026, this prohibition is further expanded to include pesticide products containing imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, or acetamiprid.
There are several exemptions to this prohibition which would allow the application of pesticide products containing clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, or acetamiprid. These exemptions include:
- Applications on agricultural commodities;
- Structural commercial applications within one foot of a building foundation perimeter to manage structural pests provided that the application is not conducted on any blooming plants;
- Applications by, or under the supervision of, a certified applicator for treatment against invasive species affecting woody plants; and
- Applications conducted in accordance with a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) written order to address an environmental emergency.
Pesticide applicators conducting applications for the treatment of invasive species affecting woody plants or applications in accordance with a NYSDEC written order to address an environmental emergency must take an NYSDEC-approved neonicotinoid course annually and maintain a record of this course for three years.
NYSDEC is currently developing the written order process for environmental emergencies.
This amendment also requires NYSDEC, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and Cornell to conduct a study to identify practicable and feasible alternatives to the use of neonicotinoids. The results of the study must be submitted to the governor on or before January 1, 2026, and posted on the NYSDEC’s website.
Read the full language of ECL 33-1301(13).
The amendment to ECL Article 37, “Substances Hazardous or Acutely Hazardous to Public Health, Safety or the Environment” Title 11 regulates neonicotinoid pesticide coated or treated seeds.
Beginning January 1, 2029, this amendment prohibits the sale, offer for sale or use, or distribution of any corn, soybean, or wheat seeds coated or treated with pesticides containing clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, or any other neonicotinoid as determined by NYSDEC regulation in New York State.
There is an exemption to this prohibition which allows farms to request a waiver from NYSDEC to use corn, soybean, or wheat seeds coated or treated with pesticides containing clothianidin, imidacloprid, or thiamethoxam.
This waiver process will be developed through NYSDEC regulation in consultation with NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, as required by the amendment. The amendment requires this waiver to be based upon a pest risk assessment, report, and the farm owner completing integrated pest management training.
The NYSDEC must annually report to the legislature the number of waivers granted.
Read the full language of ECL 37-1101.
In addition, section 71-3703(7) of the ECL was amended to provide penalties for violations of section 37-1101 of the ECL. This penalty provision imposes a maximum civil penalty of one thousand dollars for each day the violation continues and a maximum civil penalty of two thousand five hundred dollars for each day the second violation continues.
Read the full language of ECL 71-3703(7).
For questions regarding these amendments to the ECL, please contact the Bureau of Pesticides Management at: 518-402-8727 or [email protected].
Agricultural Production of Cannabis and Hemp in New York
The legal sale and use of cannabis has not been recognized on a federal level. Hence, there are no pesticide products registered in New York that specifically list cannabis as an application site. However, the Directions for Use of some pesticide labels are broad enough to be deemed allowable on cannabis.
While agricultural production of hemp is allowed on the federal level, there are relatively few products that list hemp as an allowed site.
DEC has prepared guidance, New York State Pesticide Regulations for Agricultural Production of Cannabis and Hemp (PDF), to help the public determine which products are allowed for use on cannabis and/or hemp in New York.
Aquatic Permits for Application of ProcellaCOR in Lake George
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued two Environmental Conservation Law Article 15 permits for the use of the herbicide product ProcellaCOR in Lake George to control the invasive species Eurasian watermilfoil. These permits limit the ProcellaCOR treatment to two areas of the Lake. A total area of 3.6 acres are permitted to be treated in Jelliffe-Knight Bay (PDF) and a total of 4 acres are permitted to be treated in Blairs Bay (PDF). These permits were issued in conjunction with an Adirondack Park Agency freshwater wetland permit and authorized by the DEC’s State Pollution Discharge Elimination System Pesticides General Permit. For more information regarding DEC’s Lake George Article 15 pesticide permits please contact the Bureau of Pesticides Management’s Warrensburg office at 518-623-1200.
