§19-16A-5. Registration of pesticides; fees; confidentiality of trade secrets.

(a) Every pesticide which is manufactured, distributed, sold or offered for sale, used or offered for use within this state, or delivered for transportation or transported in intrastate commerce or between points within this state through any point outside this state shall be registered in the office of the commissioner, and such registration shall be renewed annually. The commissioner may register and permit the sale and use of any pesticide which has been registered under the provisions of 7 U.S.C. § 136 et seq., as the same is in effect on the effective date of this article: Provided, That such pesticides are subject to registration fees and all other provisions of this article.

(b) Products which have the same formula, and are manufactured by the same person, the labeling of which contain the same claims and which have designation identifying the products as the same pesticide may be registered as a single pesticide without an additional fee.

(c) Within the discretion of the commissioner or his or her authorized representative, a change in labeling or formulas of a pesticide may be made within the current period of registration, without requiring a new registration of the product. The period of registration shall be for one year, commencing on January 1, and ending on December 31, of each year.

(d) The registrant shall file with the commissioner a statement including:

(1) The name and address of the registrant and the name and address of the person whose name will appear on the label, if other than the registrant;

(2) The name of the pesticide;

(3) A complete copy of the labeling accompanying the pesticide and a statement of all claims to be made for it including directions for use; and

(4) If requested by the commissioner, a full description of the tests made and the results thereof upon which the claims are based and the analytical method or methods employed in determining the percentage of each active ingredient listed on the label to be registered. In the case of renewal of registration, a statement is required only with respect to information which is different from that furnished when the pesticide was registered or last registered.

(e) The registrant shall pay an annual fee as prescribed by rules promulgated hereunder for each brand and grade of pesticide. The fees shall be deposited in the State Treasury and to the credit of a special fund to be used only for carrying out the provisions of this article, and shall be expended upon order of the commissioner of agriculture, pursuant to section twenty-three of this article.

(f) The commissioner may require the submission of the complete formula of any pesticide. If it appears to the commissioner that the composition of the item is such as to warrant the proposed claims for it and if the item and its labeling and other material required to be submitted to comply with the requirements of this article, he or she shall register the item.

(g) If it does not appear to the commissioner that the item is such as to warrant the proposed claims for it or if the item and its labeling and other material required to be submitted do not comply with the provisions of this article, he or she shall notify the registrant of the manner in which the item, labeling or other material required to be submitted fails to comply with this article so as to afford the registrant an opportunity to make the necessary corrections.

(h) The commissioner may not make public, information which, in his or her judgment, contains or relates to trade secrets, commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential, except that, when necessary to carry out the provisions of this article, information relating to formulas of products acquired by authorization of this article may be revealed to any federal, state or local agency consultant and may be revealed at a public hearing or in findings of fact issued by the commissioner when it is in the public's best interest.

(i) The commissioner shall provide the necessary forms to register pesticides.