Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

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Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services
Charles H. Bronson
Mosquito Misting Regulatory Concerns
COMMISSIONER
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Mosquito misting Regulatory Concerns

• Impact on Notification Requiremetns
• Unsubstantiated Claims
• Licensing
• Label Compliance

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Mosquito misting Regulatory Concerns

• Notification Requirements
• Nine states maintain list of persons requesting
  notification
• Colorado Michigan
• Florida Pennsylvania
• Louisiana Washington
• Maine West Virginia
• Maryland
• Notification typically required of applicators
• How does this apply to misting systems?

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Mosquito misting Regulatory Concerns

• For example
• Florida Chapter 482.2267, F.S. requires 24 hour
  notification prior to a pesticide application to
  a lawn, plant bed, or exterior foliage to
  persons on a published list
• Use of misting systems would therefore require
  perpetual notification

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Unsubstantiated Claims

• Pyrethrum is non-toxic to humans and other
  mammals and is considered biodegradable as well
  as water soluble. It is sought for sensitive
  applications like the post-harvest treatment of
  fruits and vegetables. Pyrethrum is so safe that
  the U.S. Government approves its use on such
  insect-prone foods as tomatoes, even while they
  are on their way to the supermarket or processing
  plant. 

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Unsubstantiated Claims

• Is the system dangerous?
• Not unless you're cold-blooded. The insecticide
  used is environmentally friendly, biodegradable,
  and cannot be metabolized by warm blooded
  animals. Pyrethrum is rapidly broken down by
  sunlight and air into harmless molecules
  eliminating the risk of run-off contamination. It
  leaves no residue and insect resistance is almost
  nonexistent. 
•  

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Mosquito misting Regulatory Concerns

• Mosquito Misting Regulatory Concerns

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Unsubstantiated Claims
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Unsubstantiated Claims
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Texas Structural Pest Control Board Release

• As the Labor Day weekend approaches, consumers
  should carefully scrutinize advertising claims
  about automated mosquito misting systems, and
  must be aware that pesticides used in such
  systems are potentially toxic to people and pets.
  Consumers also should demand proof of licensing
  by the Texas Structural Pest Control Board.  
• These aggressively marketed systems promise
  automated mosquito control using pyrethrum, a
  derivative of chrysanthemum flowers imported into
  the United States. While the base compound is a
  natural derivative, pesticides including these
  compounds are potentially toxic and label
  precautions should be read and followed.    

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Texas Structural Pest Control Board Release

• Each of these pesticides contain label warnings
  which the consumer should ask for from the
  installer, and examine, said John Lee Morrison,
  Chairman of the Texas Structural Pest Control
  Board. The companies that market and install
  these systems should not tell the consumer they
  are inherently safe. Like the use of any
  pesticide, they are safe only if precautions are
  known about and followed.  
•  One of the pyrethrum-based products, RIPTIDE,
  includes this warning Hazards to humans and
  domestic animalsharmful if swallowed or absorbed
  through the skinavoid contact with skin, eyes or
  clothing. ULD HydroPY-300, a pyrethrin
  concentrate, includes similar label warnings.  

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Label Compliance
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Questions and Answers