Additional Restrictions on Neonicotinoids for Non-agricultural Outdoor and Consumer Use, Effective January 1

Following 2024 restrictions on the use of neonics in agriculture to protect pollinators, new restrictions will focus on neonic pesticides commonly used in non-agricultural landscapes.

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation is preparing to implement a new state law that will limit most retail sales and non-agricultural outdoor uses of neonicotinoid type pesticides to licensed applicators, effective January 1.

Today, DPR shared information on how to comply with the law with pesticide dealers, retailers and pesticide applicators, and provided guidance for enforcing the new law to county agricultural commissioners who enforce pesticide laws and regulations locally.

Neonicotinoid pesticides are commonly used for killing insect pests on farms, and in landscapes and yards. Scientific studies increasingly show they are hazardous to bees and other pollinators.

Assembly Bill 363, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October 2023, requires businesses selling neonicotinoid pesticides for non-agricultural outdoor uses to be licensed by DPR. The law allows only licensed applicators to buy or use neonicotinoids around homes, businesses or other non-agricultural landscapes.

AB 363's restrictions on the outdoor non-agricultural uses of neonicotinoids align with DPR's scientific assessment on the impact of neonicotinoids on bees, which informed state regulations that took effect in January 2024 to restrict the agricultural use of these pesticides. The neonicotinoid regulations currently in effect are tailored by crop to restrict uses of neonicotinoids when plants are in bloom, including how neonicotinoids can be applied and how much can be applied.

"Pollinators and other beneficial insects are critical to maintaining a stable food supply and healthy ecosystems, and for practicing sustainable pest management," said DPR Director Julie Henderson. "The new non-agricultural neonicotinoid restrictions build on recent DPR regulations for agricultural use and align with our scientific assessment of neonic risks to pollinators."

Under the new law, only licensed applicators may apply neonicotinoids in the following situations:
•    Outdoor applications to ornamental plants in non-agricultural settings, such as landscaping around homes, schools, libraries, airports, and businesses.
•    Outdoor applications to all trees in non-agricultural use settings, including fruit and nut trees around homes and residences.
•    Outdoor applications to turf.
•    Outdoor applications to ornamental nursery stock at retail nurseries.

The new law doesn't apply to agricultural use of neonicotinoids, which are restricted through regulation, or indoor consumer products containing neonicotinoids, like ant baits, or veterinary products, like pet flea treatments.

For more information on how to interpret these legal requirements, and for how they will be enforced locally, see DPR's guidance to county agricultural commissioners on the department's Enforcement Branch webpage.

You can also contact your county agricultural commissioner for guidance. Find your local county agricultural commissioner's contact information.

For a list of pesticides affected by the new law, see Attachment: Nonagricultural Outdoor Neonicotinoid Products by Registrant from the California Notice.