NAICS 325320

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the official framework U.S. federal statistical agencies use to categorize business establishments for economic data collection, analysis, and publication. It was developed under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), adopted in 1997 to replace the SIC system, and is jointly maintained with Statistics Canada and Mexico’s INEGI; the current vintage is 2022. ¹
NAICS 325320 covers establishments primarily engaged in the formulation and preparation of agricultural and household pest control chemical products (excluding fertilizers). Agencies use this definition to classify manufacturing activity and publish industry statistics; the Census Bureau disseminates manufacturing data on the 2022 NAICS basis. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 325320 overview
• G2X — NAICS 325311 Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing
• G2X — PSC 6840 Pest Control Agents and Disinfectants

What this NAICS covers

• Formulation and preparation of agricultural pest control chemicals for crop protection (e.g., insecticidal, herbicidal, fungicidal, rodenticidal preparations). ²
• Formulation and preparation of household pest control chemical products. ²
• Nonfertilizer agricultural chemical preparations intended for on-farm application. ²
• Activities centered on blending, compounding, and otherwise preparing pest control chemical products from purchased inputs (not basic chemical manufacturing). ²
• Products classified here rather than in fertilizer manufacturing or basic chemical manufacturing when the primary activity is final pesticide preparation. ²
• Preparations that fall in this industry even when the active ingredients are inorganic, provided the establishment’s activity is the pesticide preparation/formulation stage. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Regulatory context

EPA regulates pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Except for certain minimum‑risk products, pesticide products must be registered with EPA before distribution or sale; EPA reviews active ingredients, uses, labeling, and risk data, and can impose conditions, change use directions, or cancel registrations. ⁵
Registration actions (new active ingredient, new product, or new use) require application materials, fees, and supporting scientific data; EPA evaluates human health and environmental risks, approves label language, and coordinates timelines under PRIA. Manufacturers producing or formulating pesticide products must also meet establishment registration and reporting requirements. ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What exactly does NAICS 325320 include?
  It covers establishments primarily engaged in formulating and preparing agricultural and household pest control chemicals, including insecticidal, herbicidal, fungicidal, and rodenticidal preparations. It excludes fertilizers, which fall under fertilizer manufacturing NAICS codes, and focuses on the final preparation/formulation stage rather than basic chemical production. ²

• How is 325320 different from fertilizer manufacturing (325311, 325312)?
  Fertilizer manufacturing codes cover nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers and related materials. NAICS 325320 instead classifies pesticide and other nonfertilizer agricultural chemical preparations. Establishments that primarily formulate pest control products from purchased inputs belong in 325320, not in basic chemical or fertilizer manufacturing. ²

• Are household pest control products within 325320?
  Yes. The NAICS definition explicitly includes formulation and preparation of household pest control chemical products in addition to agricultural products. The key determinant is the primary activity—final preparation of pest control formulations—regardless of whether active ingredients are organic or inorganic. ²

• Do products made under 325320 require EPA registration?
  Generally yes. Under FIFRA, pesticide products must be registered with EPA unless they qualify for the minimum‑risk exemption. EPA evaluates ingredients, uses, and labeling, and may impose conditions. After EPA approval, some states require separate registrations before sale or distribution. ⁴

• Did the 2022 NAICS update change 325320?
  Census implemented NAICS 2022 across its programs, but it does not specify a content change unique to 325320 in publicly available summaries. Not specified by official sources. ³

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 325320 overview
• Census: NAICS introduction and search (current site). ¹
• Census: 2022 NAICS implementation timeline and adoption across programs. ³
• Census: 325320 industry description (Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing). ²
• EPA: About Pesticide Registration (FIFRA overview, process, labeling). ⁴

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) introduction. https://www.census.gov/naics/
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022: 325320 Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=325320&year=2022&details=325320
3. U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and adoption). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — About Pesticide Registration. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/about-pesticide-registration
5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Pesticides Must Be Registered with EPA. https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/pesticides-must-be-registered-epa
6. Acquisition.gov — PGI 208.7006 (Coordinated acquisition assignments), PSC 6840 Pest Control Agents and Disinfectants. https://www.acquisition.gov/node/55785/printable/print
7. Acquisition.gov — PGI Part 208 (required sources), PSC 8720 Fertilizers. https://www.acquisition.gov/node/55759/printable/print