Manufacturers and distributors of agricultural and consumer chemicals (pesticides, fertilizer, feed, seed) are familiar with the volumes of paperwork associated with keeping registrations current with all state departments of agriculture.

Registering a single pesticide product in all 50 states can involve several hundred pages of forms, thousands of pages of photocopies and up to $11,000 in fees, with each state requiring annual renewal.

However, pesticide registration is not the only process state departments of agriculture must manage. On average, states manage 50 to 75 regulated business categories, ranging from pest control operators to pet stores, and each one requires the submission of paperwork and fees. For over 10 years, Kelly Registration Systems, a Georgia-based company, has been quietly working to support the regulated industries with various applications to better manage and streamline the registration process. Their applications address needs of state departments of agriculture, as well as regulated businesses and licensed individuals.

By publishing state regulatory data, free of charge, they have made it possible for businesses to renew products and licenses online. Not only can a company with national distribution manage their registration information from a single data point, they can pay all fees at one time, allowing the KRS system to electronically transfer the correct funds to each state. KRS also collects and hosts electronic documents (labels and MSDSs) that may be submitted during or between renewal seasons.

This online, one-stop, multi-state e-renewal process with single payment has recently received a patent.

The process used by over 100 companies in 2005 is gaining in popularity with states and businesses. While 23 states accepted online renewals from the KRS system in 2005, additional states are expected to sign on in 2006.

“This is a win-win application for everyone involved,” said Eric Wiant from the Illinois Department of Agriculture. “The e-renewal process managed by KRS is less likely to contain errors in data or fees. Fewer errors benefit everyone and speed the renewal process.”

In like manner, companies who use the process value the system. “Imagine registering multiple products in 50 states with each state requiring a different set of forms and fees. Now we manage the data from a single point, allow the system to calculate the fees and pay only once,” said Michelle Foster with Virbac US.

For more information call (770) 385-0009 or (800) 637-8193 or write Kelly Registration Systems, Inc., 10115 Highway 132 N., Covington, Ga. 30014