(a)  All pesticides registered in the state that contain one or more neonicotinoids and are labeled as approved for outdoor use are hereby immediately classified as state limited use pesticide. Such pesticides shall not be:

(1)  Sold or distributed to any person other than a certified applicator;

(2)  Used or applied by any person other than a certified applicator or any person working under the direct supervision of a certified applicator;

(3)  Applied, except in the course of academic research, to any linden or basswood tree; or

(4)  Applied, except in the course of academic research, to any plant when such plant bears blossoms.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 23-25-40

  • Director: means the director of environmental management. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-25-4
  • Insect: means any of the numerous small invertebrate animals generally having the body more or less obviously segmented, for the most part belonging to the class insecta, comprising six (6) legged, usually winged forms, as for example, moths, beetles, bugs, bees, flies, and their immature stages, and to other allied classes of anthropods whose members are wingless and usually have more than six (6) legs, as for example, spiders, mites, ticks, centipedes, and wood lice. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-25-4
  • Label: means the written, printed, or graphic matter on, or attached to, the pesticide or device or any of its containers or wrappers. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-25-4
  • Neonicotinoids: means any of a class of systemic water soluble insecticides related to nicotine that affect the central nervous system of insects by selectively binding to the postsynaptic nicotinic receptors of insects thereby causing paralysis and death. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-25-4
  • Person: means any individual, partnership, association, fiduciary, corporation, governmental entity, or any organized group of persons whether incorporated or not. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-25-4
  • Pest: means :

    (i)  Any insect, rodent, nematode, fungus, or weed; and

    (ii)  Any other form of terrestrial or aquatic plant or animal life or virus, bacteria, or other micro-organism (except viruses, bacteria, or other micro-organisms on or in living humans or other living animals) which the director declares to be a pest under § 23-25-9(a)(1). See Rhode Island General Laws 23-25-4

  • Pesticide: means :

    (i)  Any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest; and

    (ii)  Any substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-25-4

  • Under the direct supervision: means that on-site supervision of any pesticide application by an appropriately certified or licensed applicator who is responsible for the application and is capable of dealing with emergency situations which might occur. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-25-4

(b)  This section does not apply to:

(1)  Pet or veterinary care products used for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating fleas, mites, ticks, heartworms, or other insects or organisms when applied to or administered to companion animals, livestock, or captive wild animals, regardless of whether the application or administration occurs indoors or outdoors;

(2)  Personal care products used for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating lice or bedbugs;

(3)  Indoor pest control products used for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating insects indoors and registered in this state only for indoor use;

(4)  Products used for controlling wood-destroying pests in and around homes and other human-made structures, in accordance with the label; or

(5)  An article or substance treated with, or containing, a neonicotinoid to protect the article or substance itself (for example, seeds treated with a neonicotinoid to protect the seeds or wood products treated to protect the wood against insect infestation), if the neonicotinoid is registered for such use.

(c)  Nothing in this section shall prohibit the director from further restricting or regulating neonicotinoids pursuant to § 23-25-9.

History of Section.
P.L. 2022, ch. 149, § 2, effective January 1, 2024; P.L. 2022, ch. 150, § 2, effective January 1, 2024.