What is one of the penalties defined by FIFRA for applicators who violate the law?

One of the penalties defined by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) for applicators who violate the law is civil penalties for unintentional violations. This means that if an applicator accidentally breaches regulations—such as using a pesticide in a manner not labeled or applying it without proper licensing—they can face financial penalties. Civil penalties are typically designed to encourage compliance through monetary fines rather than criminal charges, which are more severe. This approach helps ensure that applicators adhere to safe and responsible pesticide use.

Recognizing that not all violations are intentional, the law differentiates between criminal and civil consequences, allowing for responses that acknowledge the varying degrees of compliance and intent involved in pesticide application practices.