California Codes and Regulations

Sep 1, 2006

Gavel and pair of glasses on open book

A Note Regarding California Code and Cal/EPA:

When one reviews various provisions in California statutes, especially the Health and Safety Code, Food and Agriculture Code, and Government Code, please note that the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) was created July 1, 1991 under the Governor's Reorganization Plan # 1(GRP-1). GRP-1 created the following changes:

Pesticide safety and health regulations in the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) were moved to the newly created Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) under CalEPA.
Pesticide worker safety and health programs in the Department of Health Services (DHS) were similarly moved to the newly created Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) under CalEPA.

However, the statutory provisions making these changes were not "codified" by GRP-1,. While GRP-1 defines the responsibilities of various state governmental offices and departments, some sections of code in published codes have not been updated. Code references that appear on this Web page regarding pesticide health and safety have been "updated" to reflect current legal status of CDFA, DPR, DHS, and OEHHA as affected by GRP-1.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE

SECTIONS 12980-12988 [Worker Safety]

12980. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that it is necessary and desirable to provide for the safe use of pesticides and for safe working conditions for farmworkers, pest control applicators, and other persons handling, storing, or applying pesticides, or working in and about pesticide-treated areas. The Legislature further finds and declares that the development of regulations relating to pesticides and worker safety should be the joint and mutual responsibility of the Department of Food and Agriculture [now DPR] and the State Department of Health Services [now OEHHA]. The Legislature further finds and declares that in carrying out the provisions of this article, the University of California, the Department of Industrial Relations, and any other similar institution or agency should be consulted.

12981. The director shall adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this article. Such regulations shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following subjects:

Restricting worker reentry into areas treated with pesticides determined by the director to be hazardous to worker safety by using either or both of the following:
1. Time limits.
2. Pesticide residue levels on treated plant parts determined by scientific analysis to not be a significantfactor in cholinesterase depression or other health effects.

When the director has adopted regulations pursuant to both paragraphs (1) and (2), the person in control of the area treated with the pesticide shall have the option of following regulations adopted pursuant to either paragraph (1) or (2). If the person in control of the area treated with the pesticide chooses to follow regulations adopted pursuant to paragraph (2), the director may establish and charge the person a fee necessary to cover any costs of analysis or costs incurred by the director or commissioner in carrying out regulations adopted pursuant to paragraph (2). The regulations shall include a procedure for the collection of the fee, and the fee shall not exceed actual cost.

Handling of pesticides.
Hand washing facilities.
Farm storage and commercial warehousing of pesticides.
Protective devices, including, but not limited to, respirators and eyeglasses.
Posting, in English and Spanish, of fields, areas, adjacent areas or fields, or storage areas. The State Department of Health Services [now OEHHA] shall participate in the development of any regulations adopted pursuant to this article. Such regulations that relate to health effects shall be based upon the recommendations of the State Department of Health Services [now OEHHA]. The original written recommendations of the State Department of Health Services [now OEHHA], any subsequent revisions of those recommendations, and the supporting evidence and data upon which the recommendations were based shall be made available upon request to any person.

12982. The director and the commissioner of each county under the direction and supervision of the director, shall enforce the provisions of this article and the regulations adopted pursuant to it. The local health officer may assist the director and the commissioner in the enforcement of the provisions of this article and any regulations adopted pursuant to it. The local health officer shall investigate any condition where a health hazard from pesticide use exists, and shall take necessary action, in cooperation with the commissioner, to abate the condition. The local health officer may call upon the State Department of Health Services [now OEHHA] for assistance pursuant to Section 105210 of the Health and Safety Code.

12985. Any person who orders an employee to enter an area posted with a warning sign in violation of any worker safety reentry requirements promulgated pursuant to this article by the director is guilty of a misdemeanor. A violation of this article affecting any worker or workers constitutes a separate offense for each affected worker.

12986.

The director shall approve programs for training persons who handle or apply pesticides in aerial pest control operations. The training programs shall be consistent with, but not limited to, this article and may include participation by trainees in field practices or exercises dealing with the safe handling and application of pesticides and may include performance measurement of the practices and exercises.
The approved training programs shall be conducted by industry qualified instructors. Industry qualified instructors are persons approved by the director.
All persons who successfully complete an approved training program shall be issued a certificate of completion by industry qualified instructors, which shall be available for inspection by the director or a commissioner, or his or her representative. When the person completing an approved training program attended the program at the request or expense of the person's employer, the employer shall be provided a copy of the certificate of completion, which also shall be available for inspection by the director or a commissioner, or his or her representative.

12987. The director shall require registrants of pesticides to submit the data necessary to perform the director's duties under this article.

12988. No pesticide may be registered or reregistered unless the director determines that the registrant has complied with this article.

SECTION 5029
[Invasive Species]

The department, in consultation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (changed from the Department of Health Services by GRP-1), shall design and implement a program to provide information to persons who reside in areas scheduled to be treated with pesticides on an emergency basis in order to eradicate plant pests.
The purpose of this program is to provide information about the health effects of the pesticides used in eradication projects. The program shall be designed to provide the greatest amount of information practicable to affected citizens. The department shall conduct outreach efforts to inform the public about the existence of this program.”

SECTIONS 14022-14023
[Peer Review]

14022.

In consultation with the State Department of Health Services and the State Air Resources Board, the director shall evaluate the health effects of pesticides which may be or are emitted into the ambient air of California and which may be determined to be a toxic air contaminant which poses a present or potential hazard to human health. Upon request of the State Air Resources Board, the director shall include a pesticide for evaluation.
The director shall complete the evaluation of a pesticide within 90 days after receiving the scientific data specified in subdivision (c) from the State Department of Health Services and the State Air Resources Board. The director may extend the 90-day deadline for a period not to exceed 30 days if the director transmits to the Assembly Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Rules, for transmittal to the appropriate standing, select, or joint committee of the Legislature, a statement of reasons for extension of the deadline.
In conducting this evaluation, the director shall consider all available scientific data, including, but not limited to, relevant data provided by the State Department of Health Services, the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the Department of Industrial Relations, international and federal health agencies, private industry, academic researchers, and public health and environmental organizations. At the request of the director, the State Air Resources Board shall document the level of airborne emissions and the State Department of Health Services shall provide an assessment of related health effects of pesticides which may be determined to pose a present or potential hazard and each agency shall provide technical assistance to the department as it conducts its evaluation.
The director may request, and any person shall provide, information on any substance which is or may be under evaluation and which is manufactured, distributed, or used by the person to whom the request is made, in order to carry out his or her responsibilities pursuant to this chapter. Any person providing information pursuant to this subdivision shall, at the request of the director, identify that portion of the information submitted to the department which is a trade secret and, upon the request of the director, shall provide documentation to support the claim of the trade secret. Information supplied which is a trade secret, as specified in Section 6254.7 of the Government Code, and which is so marked at the time of submission shall not be released to the public by the director, except in accordance with Section 1060 of the Evidence Code and Section 21160 of the Public Resources Code.
The director shall give priority to the evaluation and regulation of substances based on factors related to the risk of harm to public health, amount or potential amount of emissions, manner of usage of the pesticide in California, persistence in the atmosphere, and ambient concentrations in the community.

14023.

Upon completion of the evaluation conducted pursuant to Section 14022, the director shall, in consultation and with the participation of the State Department of Health Services, prepare a report on the health effects of the pesticide which may be determined to be a toxic air contaminant which poses a present or potential hazard to human health due to airborne emission from its use. The report shall assess the availability and quality of data on health effects, including potency, mode of action, and other relevant biological factors, of the substance. The report shall also contain an estimate of the levels of exposure which may cause or contribute to adverse health effects and, in the case where there is no threshold of significant adverse health effects, the range of risk to humans, resulting from current or anticipated exposure. The report shall include the findings of the State Department of Health Services. The report shall be made available to the public, subject to subdivision (d) of Section 14022.
The report prepared pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be formally reviewed by the scientific review panel established according to Section 39670 of the Health and Safety Code. The director shall also make available the data deemed necessary to the scientific review panel, according to departmental procedures established to ensure confidentiality of proprietary information. The panel shall review, as appropriate, the scientific data on which the report is based, the scientific procedures and methods used to support the data, and the conclusions and assessments on which the report is based. The panel shall submit its written findings to the director within 45 days after receiving the report, but it may petition the director for an extension of the deadline, which may not exceed 15 working days.
If the scientific review panel determines that the health effects report is seriously deficient, the report shall be returned to the director who shall revise and resubmit the report, within 30 days following receipt of the panel's determination, to the panel prior to development of emission control measures.
Within 10 working days following receipt of the findings of the scientific review panel pursuant to subdivision (b), the director shall prepare a hearing notice and a proposed regulation which shall include the proposed determination as to whether a pesticide is a toxic air contaminant. After conducting a public hearing pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the director shall list, by regulation, pesticides determined to be toxic air contaminants.
The director shall determine, in consultation with the State Department of Health Services, the State Air Resources Board, and the air pollution control districts or air quality management districts in the affected counties, the need for and appropriate degree of control measures for each pesticide listed as a toxic air contaminant pursuant to subdivision (d). Any person may submit written information for consideration by the director in making determinations on control measures.

SECTIONS 13121-13135

13121. This article shall be known and may be cited as the Birth Defect Prevention Act of 1984.

13122. It is the purpose of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to prevent pesticide induced abortions, birth defects, and infertility.

13123. For purposes of this chapter, the following terms mean:

"Adverse reproductive effect" means a statistically significant adverse effect on parental reproductive performance and the growth and development of offspring, including gonadal function, conception, and parturition; abortions; birth defects; stillbirths; and resorptions.
"Data gap" means that the department does not have on file a full set of valid mandatory health effects studies.
"Mandatory health effects study" means adverse reproductive effect, chronic toxicity, mutagenicity, neurotoxicity, oncogenicity, and teratogenicity studies required for full registration or licensing of pesticides in California, as of July 1, 1983.
"Teratogenic" means the property of a substance or mixture of substances to produce or induce functional deviations or developmental anomalies, not heritable, in or on an animal embryo or fetus.
"Mutagenic effect" means the property of a substance or mixture of substances to induce changes in the genetic complement of either somatic or germinal tissue in subsequent generations.
"Chronic toxicity" means the property of a substance or mixture of substances to cause adverse effects in an organism upon repeated or continuous exposure over a period of at least one-half the lifetime of that organism.
"Oncogenic" means the property of a substance or a mixture of substances to produce or induce benign or malignant tumor formations in living animals.
"Neurotoxic effect" means any adverse effect on the nervous system such as delayed-onset locomotor ataxia resulting from single administration of the test substance, repeated once if necessary.
"Initiation" means that the mandatory health effects study or any necessary preliminary studies, such as pilot studies or range finding studies, have been commenced.
"Data generator" means a person who has completed and filed with the director a data commitment status report.
"Completion" means that the study has been finished, the data has been analyzed, and the final report of the results, including all exhibits, has been prepared and submitted to the department.
"Submitted" means deliverance of a completed study to the department. A study shall be deemed to be submitted until it has been determined by the department to be unacceptable and not capable of being upgraded.
"Suspend" means the director has issued a notice of intent to suspend the registration of a pesticide product. The director shall issue a suspension order at the earliest possible time.

13123.5. To the extent feasible, health effects studies shall be conducted in accordance with standards and protocols established pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 135 et seq.).

13126. No new active pesticide ingredient shall be conditionally registered or licensed when any of the mandatory health effects studies, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 13123, is missing, incomplete, or of questionable validity unless the registration is based on previous consultation with the State Director of Health Services and the Director of Industrial Relations.

13127.

Not later than December 31, 1985, the department shall identify 200 pesticide active ingredients which the department determines have the most significant data gaps and widespread use and which are suspected to be hazardous to people. Not later than 30 days after the report issued pursuant to former Section 13125, as added by Chapter 669 of the Statutes of 1984, the department shall notify each registrant of a pesticide product containing any of the identified 200 pesticide active ingredients of the applicable data gap required to be filled pursuant to this section.
Not later than December 31, 1985, the department shall also adopt a timetable for the filling of all data gaps on all pesticide active ingredients, other than those identified by the department pursuant to subdivision (a), which are currently registered or licensed in California. The department shall notify registrants of the applicable data gaps and the scheduled time to initiate and complete studies as provided in the timetable.
(1) Not later than September 1, 1986, the department shall determine whether a test has been initiated to fill each of the data gaps for each pesticide active ingredient identified in subdivision (a). If no test has been initiated, the department shall fill data gaps in accordance with procedures provided in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Section 136a of Title 7 of the United States Code. In order to carry out this section, the director has the same authority to require information from registrants of active pesticide ingredients and to suspend registration that the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency has pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Section 136a of Title 7 of the United States Code. If a hearing is requested regarding the proposed suspension of registration, it shall be conducted pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. On or before July 1, 1986, the director shall, by regulation, prescribe procedures for resolving disputes or funding the filling of data gaps. The procedures may include mediation and arbitration. The arbitration procedures, insofar as practical, shall be consistent with the federal act, or otherwise shall be in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules established by the American Arbitration Association. The procedures shall be established so as to resolve any dispute within the timetable established in subdivision (a).
(2)The department shall also obtain the data which is identified in subdivision (b), according to the timetable and procedures specified in this section.
The director shall review the timetable established by the Environmental Protection Agency for the accelerated registration program under amendments effective in 1989 to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 136 et seq.).
(1) This section does not apply to any product which the director determines has limited use or that substantial economic hardship would result to users due to unavailability of the product and there is not significant exposure to the public or workers and the product is otherwise in compliance with federal law.
(2) The director may not, pursuant to this subdivision, exempt all pesticide products containing the same pesticide active ingredient unless it is determined that the pesticide active ingredient has only limited use, there is insignificant exposure to workers or the public, and the products are otherwise in compliance with federal law. Any exemption issued pursuant to this paragraph shall expire at the end of three years after it is issued.

(3) Whenever the director exercises the authority provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), he or she shall give public notice of the action stating the reasons for exempting the pesticide product from the data requirements of this article. Copies of this notice shall be provided to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. (2)
Whenever the director acts pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e), the director shall furnish not less than 30 days' public notice of the proposed action, stating the reasons for exempting the pesticide product from the data requirements of this article and allowing public comment thereon. Copies of the notice and the final decision shall be provided to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.

13127.2. The director shall, on January 15, 1992, issue a notice of the impending suspension of the registration of any pesticide product containing an active ingredient identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13127 for which the registrant has not submitted the required data by December 31, 1991. The data generator or registrant may petition the director within 30 days of notification of impending suspension of registration for deferral of the suspension pursuant to Section 13127.3. The director shall act upon such a petition at the earliest possible time and, upon denial of the petition, suspend the registration of each such product.

13127.3.

The director shall grant an extension of time for submission of the required data if, and only if, the director, with the concurrence of the Secretary for Environmental Protection, makes a finding that both of the following conditions are satisfied:
1. The registrant has submitted at least eight of the mandatory health effects studies, and has initiated the studies required to fill the remaining data gaps by January 15, 1992, unless the registrant can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the director that it failed to have eight studies submitted, and the remaining studies initiated, in accordance with this paragraph because not more than two studies were delayed due to specific, written direction of the department based upon a written evaluation by a department toxicologist.
2. That the registrant has taken appropriate steps to meet the requirements of this article. To determine whether appropriate steps have been taken, the director shall consider the registrant's timely response to data call-ins on other active ingredients contained in products registered with the department pursuant to this article and pursuant to Article 15 (commencing with Section 13141), and whether the registrant has responded in a timely and appropriate manner to notices and correspondence from the department relating to data call-ins and has taken appropriate measures to address study deficiencies identified by the department.
A registrant shall not be considered to have taken the appropriate steps, as provided in subdivision (a), if the registrant has failed to meet the deadlines established by this article due to efforts to coordinate compliance with federal data requirements. 13127.31. Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 13127.3, if the director finds that delays in submitting the mandatory health effects studies were primarily caused by actions of the department, the director, with the concurrence of the Secretary for Environmental Protection, may extend the deadlines for submitting the mandatory health effects studies for the following active ingredients creosote, pentachlorophenol, dicamba, para-dichlorobenzene, methyl bromide, napropamide, petroleum distillates, and arsenic pentoxide/trioxide. Registrants of these products shall submit the required studies in a timely manner, but in no case later than the time allowed in Section 13127.92.

13127.4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the following pesticide products shall remain registered in this state:

Except as specified in subdivision,
no pesticide product containing an active ingredient identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13127 for which the required studies have not been submitted by March 30, 1996, shall remain registered after that date. (b) No pesticide product containing methyl bromide or pentachlorophenol for which the required studies have not been submitted by December 31, 1997, shall remain registered after that date.

13127.5.

The director, with the concurrence of the Secretary for Environmental Protection, may defer the suspension of registration of a pesticide product, as provided in Section 13127.2, if both of the following occur:
1. The director receives a petition from the registrant or any other person requesting a deferral of suspension.
2. The director makes a written finding of one of the following:
  1. Suspension of the registration of the product would cause substantial economic hardship to the users of the product, that there would be no significant, unmitigated human exposure to the product, and that no feasible alternatives to the product are available.
  2. Suspension of the registration of the product would be more detrimental to the agricultural or nonagricultural environment than continued use of the product, that there would be no significant, unmitigated human exposure to the product, and that no feasible alternatives to the product are available.
  3. Suspension of the registration of the product would result in significant risk to the public health and that no feasible alternatives to the product are available.
The director shall limit the use of any product granted a deferral of suspension pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) to specific uses that conform to the director's findings pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).

13127.6. The director shall levy a charge on data generators of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) per day for each day a data gap continues to exist after the date the director issues a deferral of suspension of registration pursuant to Section 13127.5. In establishing the amount of the charge, the director shall consider the number of outstanding studies, the registrant's timely response to data call-ins on other products registered with the department pursuant to this article, and whether the registrant has responded in a timely and appropriate manner to notices and correspondence from the department relating to data call-ins, and whether the registrant has taken appropriate measures to address study deficiencies identified by the department. If the charge levied on the data generator is not paid, all products containing that active ingredient shall be suspended. Revenues collected from the levying of charges shall be deposited in the Department of Pesticide Regulation Fund.

13127.7. All documentation relevant to a finding made pursuant to Sections 13127.3 and 13127.5 shall be available to the public, and the findings shall be a public record.

13127.8.

A suspension of registration of a pesticide product containing any of the active ingredients identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13127 shall be revoked when the director determines that the registrant has submitted all of the mandatory health effects studies. If, upon completion of the review of the studies, the director determines that a data gap still exists, the director shall suspend the registration.
If at any time after January 1, 1992, the registrant meets the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 13127.3, notwithstanding the date specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 13127.3, the director shall revoke the suspension, and shall levy a charge pursuant to Section 13127.6 or, if a charge has already been levied on a registrant, the director may revise the charge in light of the registrant's compliance with the requirements of this article and Article 15 (commencing with Section 13141).
The director may modify the amount of the charge levied pursuant to Section 13127.6 upon the initiation or submission of any health effects studies required pursuant to this article. 13127.9. For each mandatory health effects study that is required for each active ingredient identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13127, the registrant shall submit to the department a progress report in December of each year until the study is completed.

13127.9.1. The director shall suspend the registration of any pesticide product that contains an active ingredient identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13127 for which the registrant fails to do any of the following:

Respond to the director's notification of a data gap.
Submit progress reports as required by Section 13127.9.
Demonstrate reasonable progress toward completion of all the mandatory health effects studies.

13127.9.2.

Extensions of time granted pursuant to Section 13127.3, 13127.31, and 13127.5 shall only be for the time necessary to complete the mandatory health effects studies.
Mandatory health effects studies shall be completed in accordance with the following timetable:
1. Forty-eight months for oncogenicity, chronic feeding, and reproduction studies.
2. Twenty-four months for teratogenicity and neurotoxicity studies.
3. Twelve months for mutagenicity studies.
A deferral of suspension of registration issued pursuant to Section 13127.5 shall be subject to an annual review by the director and shall be limited to the time necessary to complete the required studies, and shall in no case exceed four years with the time tolling from the date that the registrant petitioned for an extension.
Any extension of time for submission of the mandatory health effects studies granted pursuant to Section 13127.5 shall be canceled by June 15, 1993, and the registration suspended for the affected ingredient, if the registrant fails to initiate the required studies by June 15, 1992.

13128. No applicant for registration or current registrant of a pesticide who proposes to purchase or purchases a registered pesticide from another producer in order to formulate the purchased pesticide into an end use product shall be required pursuant to Section 13127 to submit or cite mandatory health effect data pertaining to the safety of the purchased product or to offer to pay reasonable compensation for the use of any such data if the producer is engaged in fulfilling the requirements of Section 13127.

13129.

If the director, after evaluation of the health effects study of an active ingredient, finds that a pesticide product containing the active ingredient presents significant adverse health effects, including reproduction, birth defects, or infertility abnormalities, the director shall take cancellation or suspension action against the product pursuant to Section 12825 or 12826.
The State Director of Health Services shall have access to mandatory health effects studies and other health effects studies on file at the Department of Food and Agriculture, and may, based upon the determination of the State Director of Health Services, provide advice, consultation, and recommendations concerning the risks to human health associated with exposure to the substances tested.

13130.3.

Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 13127, the time permitted by the director for submitting data to fill a data gap shall be as follows:
1. For oncogenicity studies and chronic feeding studies, 48 months.
2. For reproduction studies, 48 months.
3. For teratogenicity and neurotoxicity studies, 24 months.
4. For mutagenicity studies, 12 months. The time permitted by the director for submitting data to fill a data gap shall commence upon the date the department notifies the registrant of the data gap.
Notwithstanding the time limit established in subdivision (a) for submitting data to fill a data gap, the department may, with the concurrence of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, grant an extension of time to complete the required studies, upon a written finding that events beyond the control of the persons responsible for submitting the data prevent submission of the data within the prescribed time, and that those persons have made a good faith effort to complete the studies within the prescribed time. Not more than one extension of time per data requirement may be granted to complete the required studies. The length of an extension granted pursuant to this subdivision shall be limited to the time necessary to complete the studies, not to exceed the length of time specified in subdivision (a) for conducting the studies.

13131.1.

Not later than March 1, 1992, the director shall notify registrants of the data requirements, and the guidelines the director intends to use in reviewing studies submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 13127, for all pesticide active ingredients other than those identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13127.
Not later than 90 calendar days after the date of notification of the data requirements, each registrant shall do one of the following:
1. Inform the department, in a manner prescribed by the director, of how the registrant will comply with the data requirements.
2. File a written objection, accompanied by any supporting evidence and arguments, to all or part of the director's notice of data requirements. The objection authorized by this paragraph shall be the exclusive opportunity for a registrant to object to the director's notice of data requirements.
The director may consider and grant a request by a registrant to initiate the studies necessary to comply with the data requirements in accordance with a schedule established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In no event shall a registrant be authorized pursuant to this subdivision to initiate the studies necessary for that compliance after January 1,
1994.

13131.2.

Prior to March 1, 1992, or in response to a written objection filed pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 13131.1, the department may determine, with the concurrence of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, that one or more of the mandatory health effects studies are not required in order to evaluate pesticide active ingredients other than those identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13127. This determination may be made only in accordance with one or more of the following criteria:
1. The ingredient has been classified as "Generally Recognized as Safe" by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
2. The study is not physically possible due to the nature of the ingredient.
3. The department has on file toxicological data that is adequate for the assessment of the potential adverse health effects of the ingredient, and the studies relied upon for that purpose are of the same study type, are scientifically valid, and, when taken together, are of a power and sensitivity equivalent to the studies that would be waived pursuant to this subdivision.
The director may, in conjunction with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, develop regulations for modification of mandatory health effects studies.

13131.3. If the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment does not concur with the determination of the department pursuant to Section 13131.2, the issue shall be decided by a majority of the membership of a panel consisting of the following persons:

An appointee of the State Director of Health Services who has expertise in toxicology.
An appointee of the President of the University of California who has expertise in toxicology.
An appointee of the Secretary for Environmental Protection who has expertise in toxicology.

13131.4.

On or before January 1, 1994, the director shall issue a final notice of data gaps required to be filled for all pesticide active ingredients other than those identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13127. This notice shall be the department's final determination of the data gaps required to be filled.
The time allowed under Section 13130.3 to fill the data gaps shall commence on the date that the final notice of data gaps is issued pursuant to subdivision (a), unless an extension is granted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 13130.3.
Not later than 90 calendar days after the date the final notice of data gaps is issued pursuant to subdivision (a), each registrant shall inform the department, in a manner prescribed by the director, how the registrant will fill the data gap, including a proposed schedule for initiation, completion, and submittal of all required studies.

13131.5. The director shall suspend the registration of any pesticide containing an active ingredient for which the director notifies a registrant pursuant to Section 13131.1 and for which the registrant or data generator, in the judgment of the director, fails to respond appropriately or fails to provide evidence that it is taking appropriate steps to secure the data that are required pursuant to Section 13131.1 or the final notice of data gaps pursuant to Section 13131.4.

13133. If any provision of this article or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, this invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the article which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this article are severable.

13134.

The department, in cooperation with the State Department of Health Services, shall conduct an assessment of dietary risks associated with the consumption of produce and processed foods treated with pesticides. This assessment shall integrate adequate data on acute effects and the mandatory health effects studies specified in subdivision (c) of Section 13123, appropriate dietary consumption estimates, and relevant residue data based on the department's and the State Department of Health Services' monitoring data and appropriate field experimental and food technology information to quantify consumer risk. Differences in age, sex, ethnic, and regional consumption patterns shall be considered. The department shall submit each risk assessment to the State Department of Health Services, with necessary supporting documentation, for peer review, which shall consider the adequacy of public health protection.

The State Department of Health Services may provide comments to the department. The department shall formally respond to all of the comments made by the State Department of Health Services. The department shall modify the risk assessment to incorporate the comments as deemed appropriate by the director. All correspondence between the department and the State Department of Health Services in this matter shall be made available to any person, upon request, pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code).
The department shall consider those pesticides designated for priority food monitoring pursuant to Section 12535 and the results of the department's or the State Department of Health Services' monitoring in establishing priorities for the dietary risk assessments.
(1) If the department lacks adequate data on the acute effects of pesticide active ingredients or mandatory health effects studies specified in subdivision (c) of Section 13123 necessary to accurately estimate dietary risk, the department shall require the appropriate data to be submitted by the registrant of products whose labels include food uses. This subdivision shall not be construed to affect the timeframes established pursuant to Section 13127.
(2) No applicant for registration, or current registrant, of a pesticide who proposes to purchase or purchases a registered pesticide from another producer in order to formulate the purchased pesticide into an end use product shall be required to submit or cite data pursuant to this section or offer to pay reasonable compensation for the use of any such data if the producer is engaged in fulfilling the data requirements of this section.
(1) If a registrant fails to submit the data requested by the director pursuant to this section within the time specified by the director, the director shall issue a notice of intent to suspend the registration of that pesticide. The director may include in the notice of intent to suspend any provisions that are deemed appropriate concerning the continued sale and use of existing stocks of that pesticide. Any proposed suspension shall become final and effective 30 days from the receipt by the registrant of the notice of intent to suspend, unless during that time a request for hearing is made by a person adversely affected by the notice or the registrant has satisfied the director that the registrant has complied fully with the requirements that served as a basis for the notice of intent to suspend. If a hearing is requested, a hearing shall be conducted pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The only matter for resolution at the hearing shall be whether the registrant has failed to take the action that served as the basis for the notice of intent to suspend the registration of the pesticide for which additional data is required and whether the director's determination with respect to the disposition of existing stocks is consistent with this subdivision. (2) A hearing shall be held and a determination made within 75 days after receipt of a request for a hearing. The decision rendered after completion of the hearing shall be final. Any registration suspended shall be reinstated by the director if the director determines that the registrant has complied fully with the requirements that served as a basis for the suspension of the registration.
If the department finds that any pesticide use represents a dietary risk that is deleterious to the health of humans, the department shall prohibit or take action to modify that use or modify the tolerance pursuant to Section 12561, or both, as necessary to protect the public.

13135. The department and the State Department of Health Services shall jointly review the existing federal and state pesticide registration and food safety system and determine if the existing programs adequately protect infants and children from dietary exposure to pesticide residues. The review shall commence as early as possible in 1990, so that any policy or administrative adjustments determined to be necessary as a result of the joint review can be made on a timely basis. The department shall consult with the University of California and other qualified public and private entities in conducting the joint review. The joint review shall continue for a sufficient time in order to evaluate the report of infant exposure to pesticide residues, which is presently being undertaken by the National Academy of Sciences. Within six months of the official release of the National Academy of Sciences' study, the department shall finalize a report describing the evaluation that was conducted pursuant to this section, including any recommendations for modification of the existing regulatory system in order to adequately protect infants and children.

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

SECTION 105200-105225

[Pesticide illness reporting]

105200. Any physician and surgeon who knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, that a patient is suffering from pesticide poisoning or any disease or condition caused by a pesticide shall promptly report that fact to the local health officer by telephone within 24 hours and by a copy of the report required pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 6409 of the Labor Code within seven days, except that the information which is available to the physician and surgeon is all that is required to be reported as long as reasonable efforts are made to obtain the information. Each local health officer shall immediately notify the county agricultural commissioner and, at his or her discretion, shall immediately notify the Director of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment of each report received and shall report to the Director of Pesticide Regulation, the Director of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and the Director of Industrial Relations, on a form prescribed by the Director of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, each case reported to him or her pursuant to this section within seven days after receipt of the report. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment shall designate a phone number or numbers for use by local health officers in the immediate notification of the office of a pesticide poisoning report. The office shall from time to time establish criteria for use by the local health officers in determining whether the circumstances of a pesticide poisoning warrants the immediate notification of the office. In no case shall the treatment administered for pesticide poisoning or a condition suspected as pesticide poisoning be deemed to be first aid treatment. Any physician and surgeon who fails to comply with the reporting requirements of this section or any regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250). For the purposes of this section, failure to report a case of pesticide poisoning involving one or more employees in the same incident shall constitute a single violation. The Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the Department of Industrial Relations shall enforce these provisions by issuance of a citation and notice of civil penalty in a manner consistent with Section 6317 of the Labor Code. Any physician and surgeon who receives a citation and notice of civil penalty may appeal to the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board in a manner consistent with Section 6319 of the Labor Code. Each local health officer shall maintain the ability to receive and investigate reports of pesticide poisoning at all times pursuant to Section 12982 of the Food and Agricultural Code.

105205. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment shall develop and implement, in cooperation with local health officers and state and local medical associations, a program of medical education to alert physicians and other health care professionals to the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and reporting of pesticide poisoning.

105206. [See medical supervision below]

105210. After consultation with the county agricultural commissioner or the Director of Agriculture, the local health officer may, upon his determination that pesticide poisoning is serious and that an outbreak in pesticide poisoning or any disease or condition caused by pesticide poisoning has occurred in his county, request assistance by the state department. Upon such request, the director shall provide the local health officer with the necessary staff and technical assistance to conduct an epidemiologic investigation of the outbreak, and where appropriate, shall make recommendation to control or prevent such poisoning outbreaks.

SECTION 105206
[Medical Supervision (cholinesterase monitoring)]

In order for an employer to satisfy his or her responsibilities for medical supervision of his or her employees who regularly handle pesticides pursuant to Section 6728 of Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations, the employer shall contract with a medical supervisor registered with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).
A laboratory that performs tests ordered by a medical supervisor shall report the information specified in subdivision (c) to the Department of Pesticide Regulation. Reports shall be submitted to the Department of Pesticide Regulation on, at a minimum, a monthly basis. For the purpose of meeting the requirements in subdivision (e), the reports shall be submitted via electronic media and formatted in a manner approved by the director. The Department of Pesticide Regulation shall share information from cholinesterase reports with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and the State Department of Public Health on an ongoing basis, in an electronic format, for the purpose of meeting the requirements of subdivisions (f) and (g)
The laboratory shall report all of the following information in its possession in complying with subdivision (a):
1. The test results in International Units per milliliter of sample (IU/mL).
2. The purpose of the test, as indicated by the medical supervisor, as a cholinesterase test requested for an agricultural worker under medical supervision, and, if so, whether it is for a baseline, followup, or recovery test ordered to meet the requirements of Section 6728 of Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations or for the evaluation of suspected pesticide illness.
3. The name of the person tested.
4. The date of birth of the person tested.
5. The name, address, and telephone number of the medical supervisor who ordered the analysis.
6. The name, address, and telephone number of the laboratory.
7. The date that the sample was collected from the person and the date the result was reported.
8. Contact information for the person tested and his or her employer, if known and readily available.
The registered medical supervisor ordering a cholinesterase test for a person pursuant to subdivision (a) shall note in the test order the name of the medical supervisor and the purpose of the test, pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c), and ensure that the person tested and the employer receive a copy of the cholinesterase test results and any recommendations from the medical supervisor based upon those results within 14 days of the medical supervisor’s receipt of the results. The medical supervisor shall report any worker with cholinesterase depression indicating pesticide exposure to the local health officer pursuant to Section 105200.
All information reported pursuant to this section shall be confidential, as provided in Section 100330, except that the OEHHA, the Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the State Department of Public Health may share the information for the purpose of surveillance, case management, investigation, environmental remediation, or abatement with the appropriate county agricultural commissioner and local health officer.
The OEHHA shall establish a procedure for registering and deregistering medical supervisors for the purposes of outreach and training and may establish reasonable requirements for performance. The OEHHA shall review the cholinesterase test results and may provide an appropriate medical or toxicological consultation to the medical supervisor. In addition to the duties performed pursuant to Section 105210, the OEHHA, in consultation with the Department of Pesticide Regulation and the local health officer, may provide medical and toxicological consultation, as appropriate, to the county agricultural commissioner to address medical issues related to the investigation of cholinesterase inhibitor-related illness.
The Department of Pesticide Regulation and the OEHHA shall prepare and publicly post an update on the effectiveness of the medical supervision program and the utility of laboratory-based reporting of cholinesterase testing for illness surveillance and prevention by January 1, 2021.
This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2021, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2021, deletes or extends that date.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 475, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2017. Repealed as of January 1, 2021, by its own provisions.)

SECTIONS 105215-105225

[Pesticide spills reporting]
105215. Any public employee, as defined in Section 811.4 of the Government Code, whose responsibilities include matters relating to health and safety, protection of the environment, or the use or transportation of any pesticide and who knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, that a pesticide has been spilled or otherwise accidentally released, shall promptly notify the local health officer or the notification point specified in the local hazardous materials response plan, where such a plan has been approved by the State Office of Emergency Services and is in operation. The operator of the notification point shall immediately notify the local health officer of the pesticide spill report. The local health officer shall immediately notify the county agricultural commissioner and, at his or her discretion, shall immediately notify the Director of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment of each report received. Within seven days after receipt of any report, the local health officer shall notify the Director of Pesticide Regulation, the Director of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and the Director of Industrial Relations, on a form prescribed by the Director of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, of each case reported to him or her pursuant to this section. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment shall designate a phone number or numbers for use by local health officers in the immediate notification of the office of a pesticide spill report. The office of shall from time to time establish criteria for use by the local health officers in determining whether the circumstances of a pesticide spill warrants the immediate notification of the office.

105220. The Director of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment shall maintain a file of all the reporting forms received from local health officers pursuant to Section 105215 at the repository of current data on toxic materials established pursuant to Section 147.2 of the Labor Code. The file shall be open to the public and shall be indexed at least to the extent of the following:

The county of the accidental release.
The type of pesticide involved.

105225. Each public employer of a public employee subject to Section 105215 shall post in one or more prominent places frequented by such employee a notice informing such employee of the responsibility imposed by Section 105215.

SECTION 59004
[Peer review]

The office succeeds to, and is vested with, all the duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the Health Hazard Assessment Division of the State Department of Health Services relating to assessment of human health risks of chemicals and to toxicologic and scientific consultation to programs in the State Department of Health Services and in other state agencies. The functions and responsibilities of the office shall include, but not be limited to, those performed pursuant to the following provisions of law: (a) Article 6 (commencing with Section 32060) of Chapter 1 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code. (b) Sections 217.6 and 7715 of the Fish and Game Code. (c) Article 10.5 (commencing with Section 12980), Article 14 (commencing with Section 13121), and Article 15 (commencing with Section 13141) of Chapter 2 of Division 7 of, Sections 13060 and 13061 of, and Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 14021) of Chapter 3 of Division 7 of, the Food and Agricultural Code. (d) Section 425 of, Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2950) of Division 3 of, Sections 25416, 25886.5 and 39606 of, Article 3 (commencing with Section 39660) of Chapter 3.5 of Part 2 of Division 26 of, Sections 41982 and 42315 of, and Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 44360) of Part 6 of Division 26 of, this code. (e) Section 21151.1 of the Public Resources Code

CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS

CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS Title 3, 6252
[Pesticide Registration and Evaluation Committee]

This section applies to the registration, renewal of registration, and reevaluation of pesticides.

The Department shall consult on decisions proposed pursuant to this section with public agencies which have jurisdiction by law over the use of pesticides or over activities or resources which may be affected by the use of pesticides. In doing so, the director shall establish an interagency advisory committee that shall be known as the Pesticide Registration and Evaluation Committee. This committee shall meet bimonthly or more often when requested by the director. The Pesticide Registration and Evaluation Committee shall consist of the following members:

The Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation or his or her designee who shall serve as chair of the committee;
A representative from each of the other boards, offices, and departments in the California Environmental Protection Agency:
1. The Air Resources Board;
2. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment;
3. The Integrated Waste Management Board;
4. The State Water Resources Control Board;
5. The Department of Toxic Substances Control.
A representative from each of the following state agencies:
1. The Department of Food and Agriculture;
2. The Department of Fish and Game;
3. The Department of Industrial Relations;
4. The Department of Health Services;
5. The Structural Pest Control Board in the Department of Consumer Affairs;
6. The University of California;
A representative from each of the following federal agencies:
1. The U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service;
2. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX.
The President of the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association or his or her designee;
A representative of any other public agency that the Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation deems appropriate after consultation with the existing committee membership.

CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS Title 3, Section 6728

[Medical Supervision (cholinesterase monitoring)]

Whenever an employee mixes, loads, or applies a pesticide with the signal word "DANGER" or "WARNING" that contains an organophosphate or carbamate, for the commercial or research production of an agricultural plant commodity, the employer shall maintain use records that identify the employee, the name of the pesticide, and the date of use. The original or copies of documents otherwise required to be maintained by this chapter may be used to meet the requirements of this Section provided they contain the information required by this Section.
Each employer who has an employee who regularly handles pesticides specified in (a) shall have a written agreement signed by a physician, that includes the names and addresses of both the physician providing the medical supervision and the employer responsible for the employees, stating that the physician has agreed to provide medical supervision and that the physician possesses a copy of, and is aware of the contents of the document "Medical Supervision of Pesticide Workers-Guidelines for Physicians" (available from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment). A copy of this agreement shall be given to the commissioner by the employer no later than when an employee begins to regularly handle pesticides specified in (a).
The employer’s responsibilities for medical supervision for employees regularly handling pesticides specified in (a) shall include the following:
1. All covered employees shall have baseline red cell and plasma cholinesterase determinations. Baseline values shall be verified every two years. For new employees, the medical supervisor may accept previously established baseline values if they are obtained in accordance with these regulations by the same laboratory methodology and are acceptable to the laboratory which will analyze the new employee’s blood samples.
2. (A) The employer shall ensure that each employee, not previously under medical supervision associated with that employer, has red cell and plasma cholinesterase determinations within three working days after the conclusion of each 30-day period in which pesticides specified in (a) are regularly handled.
  (B) After three tests at 30-day intervals, further periodic monitoring shall be at intervals specified in writing by the medical supervisor except for verification of baseline as specified in (1).
  (C) Where the medical supervisor has made no written recommendation for continued periodic monitoring, the testing interval shall be 60 days.
3. The employer shall keep a record of the agreement to provide medical supervision, use records, all recommendations received from the medical supervisor, and all results of cholinesterase tests required to be made on his/her employees by this Section or by the medical supervisor. Records required by this Section shall be maintained for three years and shall be available for inspection by the employee, the Director, commissioner, county health official, or state health official.
4. The employer shall follow the recommendations of the medical supervisor concerning matters of occupational health.
5. The employer shall post the name, address, and telephone number of the medical supervisor in a prominent place at the locale where the employee usually starts the workday; or if there is no locale where the employee usually starts the workday, at each worksite; or in each work vehicle.
The employer shall investigate the work practices of any employee whose red cell or plasma cholinesterase levels fall below 80 percent of the baseline. The investigation of work practices shall include a review of the safety equipment used and its condition; and the employee’s work practices which included employee sanitation, pesticide handling procedures, and equipment usage. The employer shall maintain a written record of the findings, any changes in equipment or procedures, and any recommendations made to the employee.
The employer shall remove an employee from exposure to organophosphate or carbamate pesticides if the employee’s plasma cholinesterase level falls to 60 percent or less of baseline, or if red cell cholinesterase falls to 70 percent or less of baseline. The employee shall be removed from further exposure until cholinesterase values return to 80 percent or more of their respective baseline values. The employer shall maintain written records of the dates of removal and the dates when employees are returned to exposure.
To meet the requirements of these regulations, acetylcholinesterase (also known as red blood cell cholinesterase) and butyrylcholinesterase (also known as plasma or serum cholinesterase or pseudocholinesterase) tests ordered by a medical supervisor for occupational health surveillance shall be performed by a clinical laboratory currently approved by the State Department of Health Services to perform these tests. By January 1, 2000, tests shall be performed according to the procedures outlined below. If tests cannot be performed according to the following procedures, the conversion procedure outlined in 6728 (f)(8) shall be performed.
1. Using personnel and procedures acceptable to the Department of Health Services (Business and Professions Code sections 1242,1243,1246,1269,2070; Health and Safety Code sections 120580, 1607), blood collection and storage shall be done according to the following conditions:
  1. Blood samples shall be kept in ice or at a temperature of 4º C until time of assay. If the sample is centrifuged to remove the erythrocytes from the plasma, the plasma shall be stored frozen at a temperature of minus 20º C until the assay is performed. If possible, the assay shall be performed within 24 hours after blood collection. Time of sample collection, analysis, and storage conditions shall be specified on the report.
  2. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or heparin shall be used as an anticoagulant in a standard vacutainer tube.
2. The reagents and equipment shall conform to the following conditions:
  1. A spectrophotometer at a wavelength between 405 and 425 nanometers shall be used.
  2. The assay shall be performed at a temperature of 25º C.
  3. The following conditions regarding the buffer/chromogen shall apply:
    1. A sodium phosphate buffer shall be used at a concentration of 0.1 M adjusted to a pH of 8.0 with a pH meter calibrated at both 7.0 and 10.0.
    2. Dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) at a stock concentration of 9.7 mM in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer pH 7.0 shall be used.
  4. The substrate acetylthiocholine iodide shall be used at a stock concentration of 10.1 mM in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer pH 8.0.
  5. The butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor quinidine hydrochloride monohydrate shall be used at a stock concentration of 6 mM in distilled deionized water.
3. The acetylcholinesterase enzyme assay shall be performed within 15 minutes of preparation and the procedure for performing the assay shall be as follows:
  1. Measure 0.2 mL whole blood and add into a 1.8 mL solution of deionized distilled water; mix thoroughly and keep the solution on ice.
  2. To 2.5 mL of the sodium phosphate buffer, add 0.02 mL of the blood solution, 0.1 mL of DTNB (0.32 mM final concentration) and 0.1 mL of quinidine (0.2 mM final concentration); mix thoroughly and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  3. Add 0.3 mL acetylthiocholine iodide (1.0 mM final concentration) into the buffer/sample solution and mix thoroughly.
  4. Measure absorbance over the linear portion of the enzyme activity curve in the spectrophotometer.
4. The procedure for performing butyrylcholinesterase enzyme assay determination shall be as follows:
  1. Physical separation of plasma or serum shall be performed.
  2. If samples are frozen, they shall be thawed at room temperature to assure homogeneity of the sample.
  3. To 2.6 mL of the sodium phosphate buffer, add 0.02 mL of the plasma or serum and 0.1 mL of DTNB (0.32 mM final concentration), mix thoroughly and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  4. Add 0.3 mL acetylthiocholine iodide (1.0 mM final concentration) into the buffer/sample solution and mix thoroughly.
  5. Measure absorbance over the linear portion of the enzyme activity curve in the spectrophotometer.
5. A Buffer Blank containing 2.6 mL of sodium phosphate buffer, 0.3 mL of acetylthiocholine ( 1.0 mM final concentration ), and 0.1 mL of DTNB (0.32 mM final concentration) and 0.02 mL of distilled deionized water shall be run with every batch of assays.
6. Reporting units shall be in International Units per milliliter of sample (IU/mL).
7. Baseline and follow up assays specified in 6728 (c)(2)(A) shall be conducted by the same laboratory method.
8. If an assay different from that described above is used, the method shall be shown comparable with the foregoing conditions and a conversion equation prepared. Results shall be reported in International Units per mL on both the original and the converted scale. The conditions to establish comparability shall be as described below.
  1. Using personnel and procedures acceptable to the Department of Health Services (Business and Professions Code sections 1242,1243,1246,1269,2070; Health and Safety Code sections 120580, 1607), blood samples shall be collected from at least ten subjects.
  2. Blood from each subject shall be tested by serial dilution as specified in "Comparison of Acetylcholinesterase Assays Run under Conditions Specified by the Standard Ellman Method and Conditions Specified by a Commercial Cholinesterase Reagent Kit." HS-1752, July 30, 1998, Department of Pesticide Regulation, Worker Health and Safety Branch.
  3. Test dilutions shall be made at 100% and 50% of enzyme activity.
  4. Triplicate samples shall be run by both the reference and the alternative methods.
  5. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient squared (r2) shall be at least 0.9 between results of the alternative and reference methods.

CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS Title 17, Section 98100

[Pesticide illness reporting]

Upon receipt of a report of a known or suspected pesticide-related illness or injury from a licensed physician or other health care provider, as defined in Title 17, California Code of Regulations, section 2500(a) (14), the local health officer or designee shall report the following information to the Director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the Director of Pesticide Regulation, and, for work-related illness or injury, the Director of Industrial Relations:
1. Patient demographic information, including:
  1. First and last name.
  2. Social security number, if available.
  3. Birth date.
  4. Residence address, including street address, city, county, state, and zip code.
  5. Contact telephone number, including residential, work, or cellular telephone.
  6. Gender.
  7. Ethnicity, if known.
  8. Race, if known.
2. Patient health and medical information, including:
  1. Date of onset of illness or symptoms.
  2. Date of initial examination by health care provider.
  3. Symptoms reported by patient and observations noted by health care provider.
  4. Laboratory or diagnostic tests conducted and results.
  5. Treatment rendered, if any.
  6. Medical diagnosis.
3. Pesticide exposure information, including:
  1. Date of exposure.
  2. Name of pesticide or active ingredient, if known.
  3. Description of the location where exposure occurred, including county.
  4. Description of how the exposure occurred, e.g., pesticide drift, direct spray, accidental ingestion.
  5. Determination of whether the exposure occurred at work.
  6. Determination of whether others were exposed during the incident.
  7. Description of the patient's activity at time of exposure, e.g., field work, pesticide application, equipment repair.
4. Health care provider information, including:
  1. First and last name of health care provider.
  2. Name of facility where the patient was examined or treated.
  3. Address of facility where patient was examined or treated, including street address, city, county, state, and zip code.
  4. Contact telephone number of health care provider.
  5. Name of person who submitted the report, if different from the health care provider.
5. Reporting agency information, including:
  1. Agency name.
  2. Agency address, including street address, city, and county.
  3. Agency contact telephone number.
  4. Facsimile number.
The unavailability of any of the information required by section 96100(a) shall not prevent the health officer from providing a report of the pesticide illness or injury to the required state agencies with the information that is available as long as reasonable efforts are made to obtain the information.
Reports of known or suspected pesticide-related illness shall be transmitted to the State agencies by the local health officer, or his or her designee, in a secure manner consistent with state and federal medical record transfer laws and regulations (Civil Code section 1798 et seq., Government Code sections 6250-6270; Public Law 104-191; 45 CFR parts 160, 162, and 164), via either of the following:
1. Mail or facsimile of a paper form, such as OEH 700 (9/2006), available through OEHHA (www.oehha.ca.gov/pesticides).
2. Electronic media, where available.

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Confidential Report of Known or Suspected Pesticide IllnessSep 1, 2006