What is generally the responsibility of state pesticide regulatory agencies?

State pesticide regulatory agencies play a critical role in ensuring the safe and effective use of pesticides. One of their primary responsibilities is to certify commercial pesticide applicators. This certification process typically involves evaluating the knowledge and skills of applicators regarding pesticide label requirements, safety protocols, and the proper application techniques. By certifying applicators, these agencies help ensure that individuals applying pesticides are equipped to do so responsibly and in compliance with state and federal regulations.

This focus on certification helps protect public health, the environment, and agricultural resources by ensuring that only qualified individuals handle potentially hazardous substances. In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the primary responsibilities of these agencies; for example, while they may enforce certain regulations that relate to international treaties, their main function is not to enforce these treaties directly.