Massachusetts Pesticide Board

The Board is responsible for advising the Commissioner on administration and implementation of pesticide general laws.

The Massachusetts Pesticide Control Act (M.G.L. 132B ) was passed in 1978 with the purpose of conforming the laws of Massachusetts with federal requirements on registration and certification of pesticides as set forth in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the federal regulations thereunder. The Massachusetts Pesticide Control Act also created within the Department the Massachusetts Pesticide Board. 

The thirteen member board consists of representatives of the Department of Agricultural Resources, Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Food and Drugs, Department of Fish and Game, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Public Health, as well as farming, commercial pesticide applicators, pesticide toxicology, the environmental community, the medical community, and citizens at large.

Responsibilities

The Board's responsibilities entail advising the Commissioner of Agricultural Resources with respect to the implementation and administration of M.G.L. c. 132B . The Board also hears appeals of those aggrieved by the actions or decisions of the Department or the Subcommittee of the Pesticide Board. The Pesticide Control Act, additionally, assigns the Board the responsibility for approving a variety of Departmental actions. Among the actions requiring Board approval include:

All regulations, standards and forms proposed by the Department to implement and administer the Pesticide Control Act.

  • Cooperative agreements and contracts with respect to M.G.L. c. 132B and FIFRA. 
  • Action necessary to secure for the Commonwealth the benefits of FIFRA and other federal legislation.
  • Declarations of pests and devices to be subject to the provisions of M.G.L. c. 132B .

Meetings and Minutes

The Massachusetts Pesticide Board is required to meet four times annually, usually on the first Wednesday of the Month when a meeting is scheduled.  The meeting of the Pesticide Board and Subcommittee are open to the public unless they go into executive session.

To receive electronic notices of meetings, other materials related to the Board, or if you have questions, please contact our office.

2024 Meetings

March 20, 2024 - Pesticide Board
March 15, 2024 - Pesticide Advisory Council, Pesticide
March 8, 2024 - Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council
February 9, 2024 - Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council
January 23, 2024 - Pesticide Board

2023 Meetings

December 8, 2023 - Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council
December 1, 2023 - Pesticide Applicator Advisory Council
November 17, 2023 - Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council
October 19, 2023 - Pesticide Board
October 5, 2023 - Pesticide Advisory Council, Pesticide Applicators
September 8, 2023 - Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council
July 14, 2023 - Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council
June 15, 2023 - Pesticide Board
April 14, 2023 - Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council
March 28, 2023 - Pesticide Board
February 7, 2023 - Pesticide Advisory Council, Pesticide Applicators
January 13, 2023 - Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council

2022 Meetings

December 9, 2022 - Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council
November 29, 2022 - Pesticide Board
October 14, 2022 - Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council
September 9, 2022 - Pesticide Advisory Council, Pesticide Applicators
August 25, 2022 - Pesticide Board
August 5, 2022 - Pesticide Advisory Council, Pesticide Applicators
May 6, 2022 - Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council
March 31, 2022 - Pesticide Board
March 18, 2022 - Pesticide Advisory Council, Pesticide Applicators
March 11, 2022 - Pesticide Advisory Council
March 4, 2022 - Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council Meeting
January 21, 2022 - Pesticide Board
January 14, 2022 - Pesticide Advisory Council

2021 Meetings

September 29, 2021 - Pesticide Advisory Council
September 29, 2021 - Pesticide Board
September 24, 2021 - Pesticide Advisory Council
March 22, 2021 - Pesticide Advisory Council
March 22, 2021 - Pesticide Board
March 12, 2021 - Pesticide Advisory Council
February 3, 2021 - Pesticide Advisory Council

February 3, 2021 - Pesticide Board
January 15, 2021 - Pesticide Advisory Council

2020 Meetings

October 5, 2020 - Pesticide Advisory Council
October 5, 2020 - Pesticide Board
September 25, 2020 - Pesticide Advisory Council
September 21, 2020 - Pesticide Advisory Council
July 1, 2020 - Pesticide Advisory Council
July 1, 2020 - Pesticide Board
June 26, 2020 - Pesticide Advisory Council
May 15, 2020 - Pesticide Advisory Council
March 9, 2020 - Pesticide Board
February 14, 2020 - Pesticide Advisory Council

2019 Meetings

December 2, 2019 - Pesticide Board - Cancelled due to weather
December 2, 2019 - Pesticide Advisory Council - Cancelled due to weather
November 14, 2019 - Pesticide Advisory Council
September 17, 2019 - Pesticide Board
September 17, 2019 - Pesticide Advisory Council
September 5, 2019 - Pesticide Advisory Council
June 27, 2019 - Pesticide Board
June 27, 2019 - Pesticide Advisory Council
June 14, 2019 - Pesticide Advisory Council
April 12, 2019 - Pesticide Advisory Council
March 19, 2019

2018 Meetings

December 11, 2018
September 25, 2018
September 20, 2018 - Cancelled - Failure to meet quorum. 
June 19, 2018
April 4, 2018
March 16, 2018 - Cancelled - Emergency closing of the McCormack Building

2018 Meeting Minutes

November 30, 2018 - Pesticide Advisory Council
September 14, 2018 - Pesticide Advisory Council
June 19, 2018
May 4, 2018 - Pesticide Advisory Council
April 4, 2018

2017 Meeting Minutes

December 7, 2017
September 7, 2017
June 7, 2017
March 24, 2017
March 1, 2017

Pesticide Board Members

State Agency Members:

Ashley E. Randall, Commissioner, MDAR
Kathy Romero, Designee for Commissioner Bonnie Heiple, MDEP
Marc Nascarella, Ph.D. Designee for Commissioner Dr. Robert Goldstein
Michael Moore, MDPH, Food Protection Program
Misty-Ann Marold, Designee for Commissioner Tom O'Shea, MDFG
Nicole Keleher, Designee for Commissioner Brian Arrigo, MDCR

Public Members (Appointed by the Governor)

Richard Berman, Commercial Pesticide Applicator
Dr. Jack Looney, Public Member
Dr. Brian Magee, Toxicologist
Steven F. Ward, Farmer
Richard C. Brittain, Public Member
Dr. Steven Bradley Bird, Physician

Contact   for Massachusetts Pesticide Board

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