(NAFB) – The Environmental Protection Agency recently extended the expiration deadline for pesticide applicators certification plans.

The 2017 Certification of Pesticide Applicators final rule had set stronger standards for people who apply restricted-use pesticides and required authorities with existing certification plans to submit proposed modifications by March 4, 2020, to comply with the updated federal standards. As specified in the rule, existing certification plans remain in effect until EPA completes its reviews and approves the proposed plan modifications, or until those plans otherwise expire on March 4, 2022.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, EPA is extending the existing plans’ expiration deadline from March 4, 2022, to November 4, 2022. EPA has reviewed all proposed plan modifications and is making progress on sending agency comments to certifying authorities. To date, EPA has completed 45 final reviews of the 68 plans submitted by certifying authorities.

During the extension, EPA and certifying authorities will continue to work together so that all plans meet the federal standards.