All pesticide uses must go through EPA’s standard registration process. However, urgent pest threats sometimes require a faster, temporary response when no effective registered option is available. That’s where a FIFRA Section 18 emergency exemption comes into play.
What is FIFRA Section 18?
When an urgent pest problem threatens agriculture, public health, or the environment, Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) gives EPA a temporary pathway to authorize emergency pesticide uses that are not currently registered for that specific crop, site, or pest. Applicators must still abide by the regular label AND the language on the Section 18 label. They must have copies of both while performing applications under these conditions.
Applicators also must be aware that Section 18 exemptions do not override new EPA pesticide label requirements regarding applicable mitigation measures from the Mitigation Menu and Bulletins Live! Two.
When is a Situation an Emergency?
State or federal agencies, such as the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) or Centers for Disease Control (CDC), can request a Section 18 pesticide exemption when one or more emergency conditions exist:
- An urgent, non-routine pest problem requires pesticide control.
- A new pest, often invasive, has been introduced.
- A pest jeopardizes the production of agricultural goods, the environment, or public health.
- No effective registered pesticide or alternative management option is available.
Exemption Types and Duration
Section 18 exemptions fall into four main types, each with a different duration and purpose.
| Type | Duration | Purpose |
| Specific | Up to one year | Requested for emergency conditions to prevent significant economic loss or environmental risk, including risks to threatened or endangered species and beneficial organisms. |
| Quarantine | Up to three years | Requested based on emergency need to prevent the introduction or spread of a harmful, invasive pest species not previously known to occur in the U.S. or its territories. |
| Public Health | Up to one year | Requested when emergency control is needed for a pest that poses a significant risk to human health. |
| Crisis | Up to 15 days | Requested when there is an immediate need for a Specific, Quarantine, or Public Health exemption. |
Although these exemption types differ in duration, purpose, and urgency, they share the same goal: to allow a limited pesticide use only when an emergency need has been documented and no adequate registered option is available.
Section 18 Examples in Florida
The following examples show how Section 18 exemptions have been used in Florida to address various pest emergencies.
| Exemption | Type | Pest | Purpose |
| Belay® Insecticide on Bearing Citrus Trees | Specific | Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) | Enables Florida growers to apply targeted foliar treatments on bearing citrus trees to curb citrus greening spread. |
| In2Care® trap | Public Health | Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus | Allowed vector control professionals to use specialized traps to reduce Zika transmission. |
| Thiamethoxam and Imidacloprid | Crisis | Pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei) | Allows pasture grass, rangeland, and sugarcane growers to manage urgent infestations where no registered alternative exists. |
Why it Matters
Section 18 is not permanent pesticide registration. It provides temporary, limited authorization for a specific emergency and defines who may use the product, where it may be used, and how long the exemption stays in effect.
Section 18 helps Florida respond quickly when pest emergencies threaten:
- Growers & Land Managers
- Timely response to emerging pest threats when no effective registered option is available.
- Residents & Visitors
- Quick response when pests increase the risk of vector-borne disease.
- Florida’s Economy
- Regulated response to help protect crops, communities, and natural resources.
Learn More
For more information on Section 18 emergency exemptions, visit these resources:
EPA: Pesticide Emergency Exemptions
EPA: FIFRA Section 18 Emergency Exemption Program Information and Training Resource
askIFAS: Emergency Exemption Pesticide Registrations
askIFAS: Pasture Mealybug: A New Threat for Pasture Grass, Turfgrass, and Sugarcane in Florida
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