Bill
S 644
Massachusetts bill restricts anticoagulant rodenticide registrations to emergency-use only, creates a narrow IPM-focused pathway with reporting, to reduce wildlife exposure by 2027.
Purpose
- To sharply limit the registration and ordinary use of anticoagulant rodenticides in Massachusetts and to establish a narrow, regulated emergency-use pathway and reporting requirements to protect public health while reducing environmental and wildlife harm.
Key provisions
- New statutory definition: Adds a definition of “anticoagulant rodenticide” to Chapter 132B, §2, listing active ingredients including brodifacoum, bromadiolone, chlorophacinone, difenacoum, difethialone, diphacinone, and warfarin.
- Emergency-use regulatory process: Directs the Department (with board approval) to promulgate regulations allowing limited emergency use of anticoagulant rodenticides by licensed applicators. Required elements:
- Use limited to a single indoor location, one-time application, and a maximum 14-day period.
- Must be accompanied by integrated pest management (IPM) actions emphasizing non-chemical methods and exclusionary measures.
- Additional labeling requirements (e.g., rodenticide name on any bait box).
- Written justification explaining why anticoagulant rodenticide is necessary over non-toxic short‑term alternatives.
- Applicators must report to the Department after the 14‑day period and submit an ongoing rodent-control plan for the location.
- Regulations must also address emergency use to protect drinking water supplies, control vectors for mosquito-borne illness, and emergent infectious disease control.
- Restriction on registration: Amends the registration authority (Chapter 132B, §7) so the subcommittee shall not register or reregister anticoagulant rodenticides except for emergency-use registrations as provided under the Department’s regulations.
- Transparency/reporting: Requires the Department to publish an annual report and maintain website information describing emergency uses, including locations, types and amounts used, contents of ongoing rodent-control plans, and related documents.
- Effective date: January 1, 2027.
Who would be affected
- Pesticide manufacturers and registrants of anticoagulant rodenticides (restricted from ordinary registration/reregistration).
- Licensed pesticide applicators and pest control companies (stricter use limits, documentation, and reporting).
- Municipalities, public health agencies, and drinking water suppliers (may request or implement emergency uses under the new regulatory framework).
- Wildlife, domestic animals, and natural-resource interests (would likely see reduced exposure/secondary poisoning from anticoagulant rodenticides).
- Property owners and general consumers (access to anticoagulant rodenticides for routine pest control would be curtailed).
Procedural status & timeline (as provided)
- Filed: Senate Docket No. 1447, filed 1/16/2025, presented by Sen. Michael O. Moore.
- Introduced / read twice: Feb 20, 2025; referred to committee (entries list Environment and Natural Resources; other action entries are varied).
- Hearing scheduled (per docket): 10/27/2025.
- Effective if enacted: January 1, 2027.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Environmental/public‑health benefit: Likely reduction in secondary poisoning of raptors, mammals, and pets; lower environmental persistence of toxicants.
- Operational/public‑health tradeoffs: More reliance on IPM and non-chemical controls; may increase costs and complexity of rodent control for some settings; emergency regulatory pathway preserves targeted use where acute public-health risks exist.
- Administrative burden: New regulatory drafting, application/approval processes, and annual reporting will generate workload for the Department and for applicators.
Sponsor information
- Presented by Sen. Michael O. Moore; the docket lists multiple cosponsors. See the official legislative docket for the full sponsor/cosponsor list and related drafts (e.g., S2721 referenced).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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