California Code of Regulations (Title 3. Food and Agriculture)
Division 6. Pesticides and Pest Control Operations

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Division 6. Pesticides and Pest Control Operations
Chapter 3. Pest Control Operations
Subchapter 2. Work Requirements
Article 4. Storage, Transportation and Disposal


6670. General Requirement.

Pesticides, emptied containers or parts thereof, or equipment that holds or has held a pesticide, shall not be stored, handled, emptied, disposed of, or left unattended in such a manner or at any place where they may present a hazard to persons, animals (including bees), food, feed, crops or property. The commissioner may take possession of such unattended pesticides or emptied containers to abate such hazard.

 

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976 and 12981, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

Reference: Sections 11501, 12981 and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

6672. Security of Pesticides and Pesticide Containers.

(a) No person shall deliver a container that holds, or has held, a pesticide to a property unless he stores it in an enclosure or closure complying with the requirements of this Section or delivers it to a person in charge of the property or his agent, or a pest control operator or his employee. The person receiving the container shall control access to it in accordance with this Section.

(b) Each person who controls the use of any property or premises is responsible for all containers or equipment on the property that hold, or have held, a pesticide. Unless all such containers are under his personal control so as to avoid contact by unauthorized persons, he shall:

(1) Provide a person responsible to him to maintain such control over the containers at all times; or

(2) Store all such containers in a locked enclosure, or in the case of liquid pesticides in a container larger than 55 gallons in capacity, the container shall have a locked closure. Either shall be adequate to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to any of the material.

 

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976 and 12981, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

Reference: Sections 11501, 12981 and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

6674. Posting of Pesticide Storage Areas.

Signs visible from any direction of probable approach shall be posted around all storage areas where containers that hold, or have held, pesticides required to be labeled with the signal words "warning" or "danger" are stored. Each sign shall be of such size that it is readable at a distance of 25 feet and be substantially as follows:

DANGER

POISON STORAGE AREA

ALL UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS KEEP OUT

KEEP DOOR LOCKED WHEN NOT IN USE

The notice shall be repeated in an appropriate language other than English when it may reasonably be anticipated that persons who do not understand the English language will come to the enclosure.

 

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976 and 12981, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

Reference: Sections 11501, 12981 and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

6676. Container Requirements.

Except as provided in the Food and Agricultural Code pertaining to service containers, any container that holds, or has held, any pesticide, when stored or transported, shall carry the registrant's label. All lids or closures shall be securely tightened except when the procedure described in Section 6684 has been followed. This Section shall not apply to measuring devices that are not used to store or transport a pesticide.

 

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976 and 12981, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

Reference: Sections 11501, 12981 and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

6678. Service Container Labeling.

Service containers, other than those used by a person engaged in the business of farming when the containers are used on the property the person is farming, shall be labeled with:

(a) The name and address of the person or firm responsible for the container;

(b) The identity of the pesticide in the container; and

(c) The word "Danger," "Warning," or "Caution," in accordance with the label on the original container.

 

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 11502, 12781 and 12859, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

Reference: Sections 11501 and 12859, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

6680. Prohibited Containers for Pesticides.

In no case shall a pesticide be placed or kept in any container of a type commonly used for food, drink or household products.

 

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976 and 12981, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

Reference: Sections 11501, 12981 and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

6682. Transportation.

(a) Pesticides shall not be transported in the same compartment with persons, food or feed. 

(b) Pesticide containers shall be secured to vehicles during transportation in a manner that will prevent spillage onto the vehicle or off the vehicle. Paper, cardboard, and similar containers shall be covered when necessary to protect them from moisture.

 

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976 and 12981, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

Reference: Sections 11501, 12981 and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

6684. Rinse and Drain Procedures.

(a) Except for containers to be returned to the registrant, each emptied container that has held less than 28 gallons of a liquid pesticide that is diluted for use shall be rinsed and drained by the user at time of use as follows:

(b)(1) Use the following amount of water or other designated spray carrier for each rinse.

Use the following amount of water or other designated spray carrier for each rinse

Size of container

Amount of rinse medium
Less than 5 gallons 1/4 container volume
5 gallons or over1/5 container volume

(2) Place required minimum amount of rinse medium in the container, replace closure securely, and agitate.

(3) Drain rinse solution from container into tank mix. Allow container to drain 30 seconds after normal emptying.

(4) Repeat (2) and (3) above a minimum of two times so as to provide a total of three rinses; or

(c)(1) Invert the emptied container over a nozzle located in the opening of the mix tank which is capable of rinsing all inner surfaces of the container.

(2) Activate the rinse nozzle allowing the rinse solution to drain into the tank. The rinse shall continue until the rinse solution appears clear and a minimum of one-half of the container volume of rinse medium has been used. A minimum of 15 pounds pressure per square inch shall be used for rinsing; or

(d) Other rinse methods, at least equal in effectiveness to the above, approved by the director.

 

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976 and 12981, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

Reference: Sections 11501, 12981 and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

6686. Exemptions.

(a) Sections 6672, 6674, 6682, and 6684 shall not apply to containers that hold or have held pesticides packaged, labeled, and used for home use when in the possession of a householder on his property.

(b) Sections 6670 and 6672(b) shall not apply to exempt materials specified in Section 6402 except where the commissioner, or the director in any county where there is no commissioner, determines that a hazard to public health and safety exists requiring the control specified in sections 6670 and 6672(b).

(c) Section 6684 shall not apply to outer shipping containers that are not contaminated with a pesticide.

(d) This article shall not apply to sanitizers, disinfectants, or medical sterilants.

 

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 12976 and 12981, Food and Agricultural Code.

 

Reference: Sections 11501, 12981 and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

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