DATE: March 24, 2020
EMERGENCY RULE
Due to recent events relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture has determined that an emergency Rule is hereby necessary to ensure a sufficient number of pesticide applicators are available and authorized to apply general use sanitizers and disinfectants in treating for COVID-19.
Georgia Rule 40-21-2-.01 entitled Commercial Applicators allows commercial pesticide applicators to be certified in one or more operational categories. Any person desiring to operate as a Commercial Applicator must pass a written examination on general standards of competency applicable to all categories and additional standards specific for each category or subcategory in which the applicant requests certification. One such category is Antimicrobial Pest Control, which includes Commercial Applicators who apply pesticides (Disinfectants, Sanitizers, Algeacides, Fungicides, etc.) to control undesirable or harmful algae, bacterial, fungi and viruses in homes, institutions, medical facilities, industrial and other sites.
Emergency Rule 40-21-2-0.6-.01 temporarily allows a person who is currently certified in any operational category or who is appropriately licensed to perform structural pest control services in Georgia to use general use sanitizers and disinfectants to treat for COVID-19 only without being specifically certified in the Antimicrobial Pest Control category. Having a sufficient number of pesticide applicators available and authorized to apply general use sanitizers and disinfectants in treating for COVID-19 during this time period is necessary to ensure and protect the public welfare.
The Emergency Rule is effective immediately and will remain in effect for not more than 120 days.
