Because of safety concerns, some pesticides are not available to the general public in the USA. The "Restricted Use" classification restricts a product, or its uses, to use by a certificated pesticide applicator or under the direct supervision of a certified applicator.

Certification programs are administered by the states. Requirements vary from state to state.

Pesticides are classified as "restricted use" for a variety of reasons:

• Accident history
• Potential for or history of groundwater contamination
• Acute toxicity to humans
• Application scenario likely to be hazardous; e.g. fumigants.
• Toxicity to vulnerable nontarget plants or animals, particularly away from the site of application: fish, migrant birds
• Carinogenic or mutagenic product

Atrazine is the most widely used restricted-use herbicide.

Many insecticides and fungicides used in fruit production are restricted use.

See also

• Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
• pesticide misuse