Section 3 Pesticides

Product Registration Overview

Upon receiving a completed new product registration packet for a Section 3 registered product, the information is processed in four primary steps:

1. The application and payment are received by the MDA’s Finance and Budget Division.
2. The application and payment are reviewed for accuracy by MDA’s Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division.
3. Registrations are screened for products containing new active ingredients, new use patterns, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). If applicable, the products undergo a New Active Ingredient and New Use Special Registration Review.
4. If the product is approved for registration, a unique Minnesota product identification number is assigned, and a certificate of registration is sent to the registrant.

The time to process an application varies from approximately two to four weeks once the payment has been processed.

Maintaining a Product Registration

Once a pesticide product has been registered with the State of Minnesota, there are several steps that must be taken by the registrant to maintain the product’s registration status.

1. Record Keeping:  All sales and distribution records for pesticides registered in the State of Minnesota must be maintained by the registrant for five years. For more information see the Pesticide Control Statute.
2. Annual Sales Reporting and Fees:  Annual sales fees for both agricultural and nonagricultural products must be paid. The reporting requirements for both differ and the fees must be paid separately. Reporting instructions are sent by the MDA to registrants and dealers on an annual basis.
3. Annual Registration Renewal:  Each product must be renewed annually to maintain a products active status. Registration renewal forms and instructions are sent to registrants on an annual basis.
4. Label Revisions:  Significant content changes to pesticide labels must be reviewed by the MDA to ensure the changes are approved and won’t affect current registration status.   For more information please reference the Product Label Revisions section on the Section 3 Pesticide Registration page.

Discontinuing a Product Registration

To ensure complete withdrawal from distribution or further use of a pesticide, a person who intends to discontinue a pesticide registration must do the following as required by Minnesota Statute:

1. Terminate further distribution within the state and continue to register the pesticide annually for two successive years. The normal fees associated with product renewal must be paid for each of these two years.
2. Initiate and complete a total recall of the pesticide from all distribution in the state within 60 days from the date of notification to the commissioner of intent to discontinue registration.
3. Submit to the commissioner evidence adequate to document that no distribution of the registered pesticide has occurred in the state.

Detailed information on discontinuance can be found on the Section 3 Pesticide Renewal page.