Unlawful acts; criminal penalties; jurisdiction.

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(a) The following acts shall constitute a class A misdemeanor:

(1) Making a pesticide recommendation or use or application inconsistent with the labeling, the E.P.A., or state registration for the pesticide, or in violation of the E.P.A., or state restrictions of the use of that pesticide; except that the first offense shall constitute a class B misdemeanor;

(2) Making false or fraudulent records, invoices or reports;

(3) Engaging in the business of applying a pesticide on the lands of another without having a license granted by the Department;

(4) Applying a restricted use pesticide without a certified applicator in direct supervision;

(5) Using fraud or misrepresentation in making an application for, or renewal of, a license, permit or certification;

(6) Aiding or abetting a licensed or an unlicensed person to evade this chapter, conspiring with such a licensed or an unlicensed person to evade this chapter or allowing one's license, permit or certification to be used by another person;

(7) Distributing, selling or offering for sale within this State any of the following:

a. Any pesticide unless it is in the registrant's or the manufacturer's unbroken immediate container, and there is visibly affixed to such container a label approved by the E.P.A. or by the Department, in the case of State registration; or

b. Any pesticide which is adulterated, not branded or misbranded, or any container which is misbranded or not branded;

(8) Detaching, altering, defacing or destroying, in whole or in part, any label or labeling prior to purchase by the ultimate consumer, provided for in this chapter or regulations promulgated hereunder or to add any substance to, or take any substance from, a pesticide in a manner that may defeat the purpose of this chapter;

(9) Using for one's own advantage or to reveal any information relative to formulas of products acquired by authority of § 1203 or 1204 of this title; or

(10) Neglecting or, after notice, refusing to comply with this chapter, the rules adopted hereunder or any lawful order of the Department.

(b) The following acts shall constitute a class B misdemeanor:

(1) The first offense of paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this section;

(2) Refusing or neglecting to comply with any limitations or restrictions on or in a duly issued license, permit or certification;

(3) Distributing, selling or offering for sale within this State any pesticide required to be colored or discolored by the E.P.A. under § 25(c)(5) of FIFRA [7 U.S.C. § 136w(c)(5)] unless such pesticide is so colored or discolored; or

(4) The use of fraud or misrepresentation in connection with the application of pesticides.

(c) The following acts shall constitute an unclassified misdemeanor:

(1) Operating in a faulty, careless or negligent manner;

(2) Refusing or neglecting to keep and maintain the records required by this chapter, or to make reports when and as required;

(3) Purchasing or using a restricted use pesticide except in accordance with a duly issued certification from the Department;

(4) Selling or offering to sell a restricted use pesticide unless the purchaser is a certified applicator and is certified to use that restricted use pesticide, and that certification is valid;

(5) Purchasing or using a pesticide designated for “state restricted pesticide use” except in accordance with a permit granted by the Department;

(6) Selling or offering to sell a pesticide designated for “state restricted pesticide use” unless the purchaser has a permit for its purchase and use and that permit is valid;

(7) Engaging in the business of applying pesticides to the lands of another without financial security which is currently in compliance with the requirements of § 1208 of this title;

(8) Distributing, selling or offering for sale within this State any pesticide which has not been registered pursuant to § 1203 or § 1204 of this title, or any pesticide if any of the claims made for it or any of the directions for its use differ in substance from the representations made in this connection with its registration, or if the composition of a pesticide differs from its composition as represented in connection with its registration; provided, that in the discretion of the Department, a change in the labeling or formula of a pesticide may be made within a registration period without requiring reregistration of the product; or

(9) Selling or offering to sell a “restricted use pesticide” or a “state restricted use pesticide” without a duly issued dealer permit.

(d) Justices of the Peace Courts and the Court of Common Pleas shall have concurrent jurisdiction over offenses under this chapter.


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