Pest control devices use mechanical or physical methods to trap, destroy, repel, or mitigate a pest. They don't use any pesticide. For example, glue boards, noisemakers, shiny foils that frighten birds, and bug zappers are pest control devices. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates all devices with a few exceptions. Individual states may have additional laws.

Tools and mechanisms that are not usually regulated by the EPA include:

• Equipment used to apply pesticides
• Equipment for tilling weeds
• Traps for animals with backbones, including fish
• Traps that rely on the user's skill, like flyswatters

A regulated device must meet certain requirements.

• It must be made in an establishment registered with the EPA.
• It must be labeled with an EPA establishment number.
• It must have scientific data to back up any claims of how well it works.
• It may require child-proof packaging.

The EPA evaluates devices to see if they require federal regulation. This process requires a fee. For more information:

M009 PRIA Fee Category

PRIA 4 Fee Determination Decision Tree: Non-FIFRA Regulated Determination: Applicant Initiated, Per Product.

For questions about regulatory requirements for devices, email: OPPDeviceDeterminations@epa.gov. This contact cannot make determinations about whether or not a product is a regulated device.

Additional Resources:

• Pesticide Registration Manual, Chapter 13: Devices - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Pesticide Devices: A Guide for Consumers - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Mechanical Pest Controls (Web | PDF) - Oklahoma State University, Division of Ag Sciences and Natural Resources
• Ultrasonic Pest Control? Save Your Money - University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Pesticide Establishment Registration and Reporting - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Do ultrasonic devices work? - American Mosquito Control Association
• Mosquito Traps - American Mosquito Control Association

If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email at npic@ace.orst.edu.