For purposes of enforcing the provisions of this subchapter and upon a showing to an officer or court of competent jurisdiction that there is reason to believe that the provisions of this subchapter have been violated, officers or employees duly designated by the Administrator are empowered to obtain and to execute warrants authorizing-
The examination of pesticides or devices shall be made in the Environmental Protection Agency or elsewhere as the Administrator may designate for the purpose of determining from such examinations whether they comply with the requirements of this subchapter. If it shall appear from any such examination that they fail to comply with the requirements of this subchapter, the Administrator shall cause notice to be given to the person against whom criminal or civil proceedings are contemplated. Any person so notified shall be given an opportunity to present the person's views, either orally or in writing, with regard to such contemplated proceedings, and if in the opinion of the Administrator it appears that the provisions of this subchapter have been violated by such person, then the Administrator shall certify the facts to the Attorney General, with a copy of the results of the analysis or the examination of such pesticide for the institution of a criminal proceeding pursuant to section 136l(b) of this title or a civil proceeding under section 136l(a) of this title, when the Administrator determines that such action will be sufficient to effectuate the purposes of this subchapter.
The notice of contemplated proceedings and opportunity to present views set forth in this subsection are not prerequisites to the institution of any proceeding by the Attorney General.
Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed as requiring the Administrator to institute proceedings for prosecution of minor violations of this subchapter whenever the Administrator believes that the public interest will be adequately served by a suitable written notice of warning.
7 U.S.C. § 136g
EDITORIAL NOTES
PRIOR PROVISIONSA prior section 9 of act June 25, 1947, was classified to section 135g of this title prior to amendment of act June 25, 1947, by Pub. L. 92-516.
AMENDMENTS1991-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 102-237, §1006(b)(3)(H), substituted "the officer or employee" for "he" before "shall" in fourth sentence.Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 102-237, §1006(b)(3)(I), substituted "the person's" for "his" in third sentence.Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 102-237, §1006(b)(1), substituted "the Administrator" for "he" before "believes". 1988-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100-532, §302(a), substituted "(1) For purposes of" for "For purposes of", inserted "of the Environmental Protection Agency or of any State", substituted "at reasonable times (A)" for "at reasonable times,", added cl. (B), and substituted "(2) Before" for "Before".Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 100-532, §302(b), amended par. (1) generally, substituting "entry, inspection, and copying of records for purposes of this section or section 136f of this title" for "entry for the purpose of this section".
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1988 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 100-532 effective on expiration of 60 days after Oct. 25, 1988, see section 901 of Pub. L. 100-532 set out as a note under section 136 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATEFor effective date of section, see section 4 of Pub. L. 92-516 set out as a note under section 136 of this title.