The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) has created a new category for Private Applicator Commodity Fumigation to conform with the EPA's new Certification of Pesticide Applicators rule.  Previously, North Carolina private applicators who fumigated commodities were required to have only a current private applicator certification. The new rule requires the establishment of a new certification category for Private Applicators in North Carolina who want to fumigate any harvested commodity produced on property that they own or lease. NCDA&CS created an open-book, 50-question, multiple-choice certifying exam in Private Applicator Commodity Fumigation (Category  ZCF) available June 1, 2024. All North Carolina private applicators currently performing commodity fumigation under their private applicator certification will be required to obtain Commodity Fumigation (Category  ZCF) certification no later than December 31st, 2024.

To prepare NC Private Pesticide Applicators for the certification exam, the Pesticide Safety Education Program, a part of NC State University's Department of Horticultural Science and NC State Cooperative Extension, has developed a new manual titled Commodity Fumigation: A Certification Manual for North Carolina Private Applicators.  The manual is available for purchase from NC State University’s Pesticide Safety Education eStore - Manuals.

For additional information regarding initial certification and recertification in Private Applicator Commodity Fumigation, check out our Frequently Asked Questions document below.

Private Applicator Commodity Fumigation Certification FAQ