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2023-128 Department of Pesticide Regulation — Registration and Assessment Funding

Audit Scope and Objectives

The audit by the California State Auditor will provide independently developed and verified information related to the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (DPR) pesticide registration and mill assessment processes. The audit’s scope will include, but not be limited to, the following activities:

  1. Review and evaluate the laws, rules, and regulations significant to the audit objectives.
  2. Evaluate whether DPR’s registration branch is staffed and trained to carry out its duties effectively.
  3. Assess the timeliness of the pesticide registration and renewal application processes, determine whether these time frames are reasonable and predictable for registrants, and determine the following:
    • Any differences in the timeliness of registration processes for particular categories of pesticide products, including products with intended uses important for public health or food production.
    • If differences in the timeliness of registration processes for particular pesticide products exist, determine whether these differences have resulted in delays to the sale of the associated products.
    • Any changes to the registration process—other than those planned under the California Pesticide Electronic Submission Tracking (CalPEST) system—that could improve the timeliness and predictability of registration time frames.
  4. Determine whether DPR has processes for identifying and addressing delays in application processing and, if so, review and evaluate the effectiveness of those processes.
  5. Evaluate the effectiveness of DPR’s current pesticide product registration tracking system.
  6. Determine whether the CalPEST system project is on track to meet its deployment goals and be completed within the planned budget.
  7. Determine whether DPR plans to revise its label amendment approval process. If so, determine the goals of this effort and the estimated time frame for completion.
  8. Evaluate DPR’s processes for tracking pesticide sales, including whether its processes reasonably detect and prevent the nonpayment of mill assessments.
  9. Determine whether current registration fees are sufficient to fund the pesticide registration process.
  10. Identify which DPR programs are funded by mill assessments. Determine the extent to which the registration branch could benefit from funding from these assessments.
  11. Review and assess any other issues that are significant to the audit.
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