(a) The director, by January 1, 1999, shall implement a program for the expedited registration of or for the expedited amendment of the registration of any pesticide classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a “public health pesticide” or “antimicrobial pesticide” and that is determined by the director to have human health protection benefits that warrant eligibility for expedited processing. Nothing in this section limits the director’s authority to provide expedited registration for any other pesticide product.

(b) For the purposes of this section, “expedited registration” and “expedited amendment of the registration” mean that the director shall review an application for registration or for amendment of a registration concurrently in time with the review conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This section shall not be construed to require or authorize modification of any guidelines, protocols, or standards applicable to the review of an application for registration.

(Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 428, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1998.)