LANSING, MI - Sunday, March 23, 2008 - The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) urges residents considering hiring a commercial pesticide applicator to control pests in or around their homes to make sure the business is licensed and pesticide applicators are either certified or registered.

Pesticides include insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and rodenticides targeting pests such as insects, plant diseases, weeds, and rodents.

"Companies holding themselves out to the public as being in the business of applying pesticides for hire are required to obtain a commercial license before advertising services," said Don Koivisto, MDA director. "Be an educated consumer and don't depend solely on advertising to judge a company's ability to solve your pest problem."

Consumers should remember that pesticides are not the only option to controlling a pest, and a pest control business familiar with the problem will consider all available control practices, or integrated pest management, and consult with the customer if a pesticide application is necessary.

Also, consumers should beware of companies lacking a listed or working telephone number, cannot or will not answer questions, or are unable to provide proof that the business is licensed and applicators are MDA-certified or registered.

Licensed businesses must:

• Maintain liability insurance to protect customers in case of an accident.
• Use a certified or registered pesticide applicator to apply the pesticide.
• Provide customers with pesticide product labels and material safety data sheets upon request.
• Obtain the customer's consent prior to applying any pesticides on their property.
• Provide receipts for pesticide service that includes the business name, address, and telephone number, the full name of the pesticide applicator performing the service, the general description of the pest, the list of the pesticides applied, the time, date, and rate of pesticide application, and information on the potential hazards from the pesticide application to people, pets, and the environment.

Consumers can contact their local Better Business Bureau about a pest control company that they are considering to hire and find out if there have been any complaints registered with them against the firm. Report any unlicensed firms, suspected misapplication of pesticides, or pesticide exposure incidents to MDA's Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division at 517-373-1087.

For a list of licensed commercial pesticide applicator businesses or for more information on business licensing and applicator certification or registration is available on the MDA Web site at www.michigan.gov/mda.