During the second quarter of 2004, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) issued fines totaling $2,810 against six individuals for violating state pesticide laws and rules. Five of the individuals had their licenses suspended for a total of 22 days, and
another individual, who was not fined, had his license suspended for 36 days.
Fines ranged from $200 to $900 for violations that included not following pesticide label directions, allowing pesticides to drift onto a person or property, faulty structural pest inspections and failing to submit pesticide application records.
A penalty matrix is used to ensure penalties are uniform and fair. The matrix takes into account the seriousness of the violation, whether it is a first or a repeat offense, and whether there are any aggravating or mitigating factors involved. Larger penalties often reflect repeat offenses or multiple violations within the same incident.
Now, going beyond the policy statement, some ILIA member states are conducting pilot programs to study the feasibility of RFID technology in various real-life situations, from the open range to sale barns and packing facilities. The results of these tests will be shared with other states and the USAIP committee once they are completed. The ILIA is demonstrating that their spirit of cooperation is focused on providing consumers in the U.S. and around the world with continued confidence in the quality and safety of American beef. Their hope is that the knowledge, experience and wisdom of the men and women from within the livestock industry will become the foundation of whatever national animal identification system ultimately becomes reality.
WSDA enforces state and federal laws to protect people, property and the environment against the improper use of pesticides. Staff also provides technical assistance to the pesticide industry and consumers, and enforces the rules on structural inspections for wood destroying organisms, such as carpenter ants, termites or certain beetles. About 200 allegations of improper distribution or misuse of pesticides, or faulty structural inspections are investigated each year.