Strong relationships with regulators benefit Maryland pest management professionals. They create opportunities to share industry concerns, improve communication, and help ensure that training and regulatory requirements reflect the realities of working in the field.
That's why MSPCA was pleased to participate in the 2026 EPA Region 3 Pesticide Inspectors Workshop, held October 5–9 in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
The annual workshop brings together pesticide regulatory officials from Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Participants share experiences, discuss compliance and enforcement issues, and explore ways to improve pesticide regulation and education across the region.
Andrea Coron, Executive Director of both MSPCA and the Virginia Pest Management Association (VPMA), participated in the October 8 program with a presentation titled Industry & Regulation: Working Together.
Her message was simple: When pest management associations and regulatory agencies maintain open lines of communication, both sides benefit.
Drawing on VPMA's long-standing partnership with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), Coron highlighted several examples of industry and regulators working together to solve problems.
These included developing training to address termiticide pretreatment concerns, maintaining access to pesticide certification and testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, and pursuing changes to certification requirements to better reflect the work applicators actually perform.
While these examples came primarily from Virginia, the same collaborative approach is important here in Maryland.
MSPCA maintains a positive working relationship with the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), providing opportunities to discuss industry concerns, share information, and support education that helps members understand and comply with pesticide regulations.
For Maryland PMPs, that means having an association that can bring practical field experience and business concerns into conversations with the people responsible for regulating our industry.
The workshop also gave regulators an opportunity to see pesticide application practices firsthand.
Outdoor demonstrations included mosquito control applications using backpack misting equipment and a lawn care pesticide application. These sessions offered a practical look at the equipment and methods used by professionals in the field.
Other sessions addressed equipment and vehicle inspections, enforcement, regulatory updates, and the importance of building productive relationships between industry and regulatory agencies.
The EPA Region 3 workshop rotates among participating states. Virginia hosted this year's event, and Maryland is scheduled to host in 2027.
That provides another opportunity to strengthen the relationships between Maryland's pest management industry and the regulatory community.
MSPCA's role goes beyond providing training and hosting events. An important part of our mission is representing Maryland pest management professionals and maintaining constructive relationships with the agencies whose decisions affect our businesses.
When regulators understand the challenges PMPs face, and PMPs understand the expectations of regulators, everyone is better positioned to succeed.
MSPCA will continue building those relationships and ensuring that Maryland's pest management industry has a voice in the conversations that shape our profession.