7 U.S. Code § 136l - Penalties

(a) Civil penalties

(1) In general

Any registrant, commercial applicator, wholesaler, dealer, retailer, or other distributor who violates any provision of this subchapter may be assessed a civil penalty by the Administrator of not more than $5,000 for each offense.

(2) Private applicator

Any private applicator or other person not included in paragraph (1) who violates any provision of this subchapter subsequent to receiving a written warning from the Administrator or following a citation for a prior violation, may be assessed a civil penalty by the Administrator of not more than $1,000 for each offense, except that any applicator not included under paragraph (1) of this subsection who holds or applies registered pesticides, or uses dilutions of registered pesticides, only to provide a service of controlling pests without delivering any unapplied pesticide to any person so served, and who violates any provision of this subchapter may be assessed a civil penalty by the Administrator of not more than $500 for the first offense nor more than $1,000 for each subsequent offense.

(3) Hearing

No civil penalty shall be assessed unless the person charged shall have been given notice and opportunity for a hearing on such charge in the county, parish, or incorporated city of the residence of the person charged.

(4) Determination of penalty

In determining the amount of the penalty, the Administrator shall consider the appropriateness of such penalty to the size of the business of the person charged, the effect on the person’s ability to continue in business, and the gravity of the violation. Whenever the Administrator finds that the violation occurred despite the exercise of due care or did not cause significant harm to health or the environment, the Administrator may issue a warning in lieu of assessing a penalty.

(5) References to Attorney General

In case of inability to collect such civil penalty or failure of any person to pay all, or such portion of such civil penalty as the Administrator may determine, the Administrator shall refer the matter to the Attorney General, who shall recover such amount by action in the appropriate United States district court.

(b) Criminal penalties

(1) In general

(A) Any registrant, applicant for a registration, or producer who knowingly violates any provision of this subchapter shall be fined not more than $50,000 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both.

(B) Any commercial applicator of a restricted use pesticide, or any other person not described in subparagraph (A) who distributes or sells pesticides or devices, who knowingly violates any provision of this subchapter shall be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both.

(2) Private applicator

Any private applicator or other person not included in paragraph (1) who knowingly violates any provision of this subchapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall on conviction be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned for not more than 30 days, or both.

(3) Disclosure of information

Any person, who, with intent to defraud, uses or reveals information relative to formulas of products acquired under the authority of section 136a of this title, shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned for not more than three years, or both.

(4) Acts of officers, agents, etc.

When construing and enforcing the provisions of this subchapter, the act, omission, or failure of any officer, agent, or other person acting for or employed by any person shall in every case be also deemed to be the act, omission, or failure of such person as well as that of the person employed.

(June 25, 1947, ch. 125, § 14, as added Pub. L. 92–516, § 2, Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 992; amended Pub. L. 95–396, § 17, Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 832; Pub. L. 100–532, title VI, § 604, Oct. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 2678; Pub. L. 102–237, title X, § 1006(a)(8), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1895.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1991—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 102–237 substituted “, except that” for “: Provided, That” and “uses” for “use”.

1988—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 100–532 amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “Any registrant, commercial applicator, wholesaler, dealer, retailer, or other distributor who knowingly violates any provision of this subchapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall on conviction be fined not more than $25,000, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.”

1978—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 95–396, § 17(1), authorized assessment of a civil penalty of not more than $500 for a first offense and not more than $1,000 for each subsequent offense against any applicator providing a service of controlling pests for violations of this subchapter.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 95–396, § 17(2), struck out provision respecting certain considerations when determining amount of penalty, now covered in par. (4).

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 95–396, § 17(4), reenacted second sentence of par. (3) as par. (4) and authorized Administrator to issue a warning in lieu of assessing a penalty. Former par. (4) redesignated (5).

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 95–396, § 17(3), redesignated former par. (4) as (5).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–532 effective on expiration of 60 days after Oct. 25, 1988, see section 901 of Pub. L. 100–532, set out as a note under section 136 of this title.

Effective Date

For effective date of section, see section 4 of Pub. L. 92–516, set out as a note under section 136 of this title.