Which group of pesticides is exempt from registration because it poses little or no risk to humans and the environment?

Minimum risk pesticides are exempt from federal registration under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) because they are deemed to pose little or no risk to human health and the environment. These products typically contain ingredients that are considered safe, such as those derived from natural sources, and they do not have significant adverse effects associated with their use.

The key characteristic of minimum risk pesticides is that they must meet specific criteria, such as containing only exempted ingredients, and they must be labeled properly to ensure safe use. This exemption simplifies the regulatory process for these types of products, allowing them to be marketed and used without the extensive registration process that other pesticides undergo.

In contrast, restricted use pesticides require special handling and application due to their potential risks, special local need pesticides are registered only for use at a local level due to specific needs not covered by general use, and general use pesticides are those that can be sold and used without any specific restrictions but still require registration.