--- kind: "section" citation: "7 U.S.C. § 136f" title: "7" title_heading: "Agriculture" number: "136f" heading: "Books and records" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/136f" units: - "Chapter 6 — Insecticides and Environmental Pesticide Control" - "Subchapter II — Environmental Pesticide Control" --- # §136f. Books and records - (a) **Requirements—** The [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) may prescribe regulations requiring [producers](/usc/7/136.md?p=w), [registrants](/usc/7/136.md?p=y), and applicants for [registration](/usc/7/136.md?p=z) to maintain such records with respect to their operations and the [pesticides](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) and [devices](/usc/7/136.md?p=h) produced as the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b) determines are necessary for the effective enforcement of this subchapter and to make the records available for inspection and copying in the same manner as provided in [subsection (b)](#b). No records required under this subsection shall extend to financial data, sales data other than shipment data, pricing data, personnel data, and research data (other than data relating to registered [pesticides](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) or to a [pesticide](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) for which an application for [registration](/usc/7/136.md?p=z) has been filed). - (b) **Inspection—** For the purposes of enforcing the provisions of this subchapter, any [producer](/usc/7/136.md?p=w), distributor, carrier, [dealer](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-6), or any other [person](/usc/7/136.md?p=s) who sells or offers for sale, delivers or offers for delivery any [pesticide](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) or [device](/usc/7/136.md?p=h) subject to this subchapter, shall, upon request of any officer or employee of the Environmental Protection Agency or of any [State](/usc/7/136.md?p=aa) or political subdivision, duly designated by the [Administrator](/usc/7/136.md?p=b), furnish or permit such [person](/usc/7/136.md?p=s) at all reasonable times to have access to, and to copy: (1) all records showing the delivery, movement, or holding of such [pesticide](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) or [device](/usc/7/136.md?p=h), including the quantity, the date of shipment and receipt, and the name of the consignor and consignee; or (2) in the event of the inability of any [person](/usc/7/136.md?p=s) to [produce](/usc/7/136.md?p=w) records containing such information, all other records and information relating to such delivery, movement, or holding of the [pesticide](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) or [device](/usc/7/136.md?p=h). Any inspection with respect to any rec­ords and information referred to in this subsection shall not extend to financial data, sales data other than shipment data, pricing data, personnel data; and research data (other than data relating to registered [pesticides](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) or to a [pesticide](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) for which an application for [registration](/usc/7/136.md?p=z) has been filed). Before undertaking an inspection under this subsection, the officer or employee must present to the owner, operator, or agent in charge of the [establishment](/usc/7/136.md?p=dd) or other place where [pesticides](/usc/7/136.md?p=u) or [devices](/usc/7/136.md?p=h) are held for distribution or sale, appropriate credentials and a written statement as to the reason for the inspection, including a statement as to whether a violation of the law is suspected. If no violation is suspected, an alternate and sufficient reason shall be given in writing. Each such inspection shall be commenced and completed with reasonable promptness. ## Source credit (June 25, 1947, ch. 125, § 8, as added Pub. L. 92–516, § 2, Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 987; amended Pub. L. 95–396, § 14, Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 829; Pub. L. 100–532, title III, § 301, Oct. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 2668; Pub. L. 102–237, title X, § 1006(b)(1), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1895.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Prior Provisions A prior section 8 of act June 25, 1947, was classified to section 135f of this title prior to amendment of act June 25, 1947, by Pub. L. 92–516. ### Amendments 1991—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–237 substituted “the Administrator” for “he” before “determines”. 1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–532 inserted “, registrants, and applicants for registration” after “requiring producers” and “and to make the records available for inspection and copying in the same manner as provided in subsection (b) of this section” before period at end of first sentence. 1978—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–396 required, in connection with inspection of records and information, the presentation of credentials, written statement as to the reason for inspection, including statement of suspected violation, or an alternative but sufficient reason, and commencement and completion of inspection with reasonable promptness. ### 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 Date For effective date of section, see section 4 of Pub. L. 92–516, set out as a note under section 136 of this title.