SALEM — A $40 per-product increase for pesticide registration became effective in Oregon on Wednesday, Sept. 21, according to a rule amended by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

The fee is authorized by a rule that establishes annual pesticide product registration fees.

The previous annual fee was $320. The new fee is $360, according to a press release.

The amended rule also makes the fee nonrefundable, beginning with 2023 pesticide product registrations.

House Bill 3549 (2015) increased the statutory maximum for annual pesticide registration fees to $400 to help fund staffing increases in the Pesticides Program. For the 2016 registration year, however, the Department of Agriculture determined that the fees only needed to be increased to $320.

But because of increased program responsibilities and expenses since then,  ODA said, increased funding now is required.  However, ODA again determined that it doesn’t need the full amount authorized, and set the fee at $360. ODA said it made the fee nonrefundable in order to increase efficiencies and reduce agency time spent on noncompliant registration applications.

ODA will be providing additional information to pesticide registrants concerning this fee increase.

For more information about the ODA Pesticides Program, call 503-986-4635 or email pesticide-expert@oda.oregon.gov.