(a) All pesticides which are registered shall be classified by the commissioner as acceptable for general use or for restricted use, provided if the commissioner determines that some of the uses for which the pesticide is registered should be for general use and that other uses for which it is registered should be for restricted use, he shall classify it for both general use and restricted use.

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(b) In the event that the commissioner determines that the pesticide, when applied in accordance with its directions for use, warnings and cautions and for the uses for which it is registered, or for one or more of such uses, or in accordance with a widespread and commonly recognized practice, will not cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment, he will classify the pesticide, or the particular use or uses of the pesticide to which the determination applies for general use.

(c) In the event that the commissioner determines that the pesticide, when applied in accordance with its directions for use, warnings and cautions and for the uses for which it is registered, or for one or more of such uses, or in accordance with a widespread and commonly recognized practice, may generally cause, without additional regulatory restrictions, unreasonable adverse effects on the environment, including injury to the applicator, he shall classify the pesticide, or the particular use or uses to which the determination applies, for restricted use as follows:

(1) If the commissioner classified a pesticide, or one or more uses of such pesticide, for restricted use because of a determination that the acute dermal or inhalation toxicity of the pesticide presents a hazard to the applicator or other persons, the pesticide shall be applied for any use to which the restricted classification applies only by a certified applicator or under the direct supervision of a certified applicator;

(2) If the commissioner classified a pesticide, or one or more uses of such pesticide, for restricted use because of a determination that its use without additional regulatory restriction may cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment, the pesticide shall be applied for any use to which the determination applies only by a certified applicator or under the direct supervision of a certified applicator or subject to such other restrictions as the commissioner may provide by regulation.

(d) In the event that the commissioner determines that a general use or restricted use pesticide, when applied in accordance with its directions for use, warnings and cautions and for the uses for which it is registered, or for one or more of such uses, or in accordance with a widespread and commonly recognized practice, may usually cause, without additional regulatory restrictions, unreasonable adverse effects on the environment, including injury to the applicator, he shall classify, the general use or restricted use pesticide, or the particular restricted use or uses to which the determination applies, for permit use. If the commissioner classifies a pesticide, or one or more uses of such pesticide for permit use, the pesticide shall be applied for any use to which the permit use classification applies only by or under the direct supervision of a permit holder. The commissioner shall establish guidelines for issuing permits pursuant to this subsection. The commissioner may restrict the permit to authorize that the pesticide be used only to control a particular pest or may restrict the location in which the pesticide may be used.

(e) In the event that the commissioner determines that a change in the classification of any use of a pesticide from general use to restricted use, from restricted use to permit use or from general use to permit use is necessary to prevent unreasonable adverse effects on the environment, he shall notify the registrant of such pesticide of such determination at least thirty days before making the change. The registrant, or other interested person with the concurrence of the registrant, may seek relief from such determination in accordance with section 22a-52.

(f) The commissioner shall change the classification of a pesticide from general use to restricted use in order to conform with the federal classification for such pesticide. The commissioner shall not be required to change the classification of a pesticide registered under this part to conform with a less restrictive federal classification.

(g) The registrant shall pay a fee of one hundred eighty-eight dollars per calendar year, or any portion thereof, for each pesticide registered and for each renewal of a registration. The commissioner may register a pesticide for a period of one year or a period of five years. For such five-year registrations, the commissioner shall establish regulations to phase in pesticide registration so that one fifth of the pesticides registered expire each year. The commissioner may register a pesticide for less than five years and prorate the registration fee accordingly to implement the regulations established pursuant to this subsection. The fees collected in accordance with this section shall be deposited in the General Fund.

(h) Products which have the same formulation, are manufactured by the same person, the labeling of which contains the same claims, and the labels of which bear a designation identifying the product as the same pesticide may be registered as a single pesticide, and additional name and labels shall be added to the registration by supplemental statement.

(i) If the labeling or formulation for a pesticide is changed, the registration shall be amended to reflect such change if the commissioner determines that the change will not violate any provisions of this part.

(j) In no event shall registration of an article be construed as a defense for the commission of any offense under this part, subsection (a) of section 23-61a or section 23-61b, provided, if no cancellation proceedings are in effect, registration of a pesticide shall be prima facie evidence that the pesticide, its labeling and its packaging comply with the registration provisions of this part and said sections.

(k) In connection with the consideration of any registration under this part, the commissioner may consult with other state or federal agencies.

(l) Not later than January 1, 2018, the commissioner shall classify all neonicotinoids, as defined in section 22-61k, that are labeled for treating plants, as restricted use pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section.