SIC 2879 — Pesticides and Agricultural Chemicals, NEC
Official OSHA SIC Manual Definition
Establishments primarily engaged in the formulation and preparation of ready-to-use agricultural and household pest control chemicals, including insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides, from technical chemicals or concentrates; and the production of concentrates which require further processing before use as agricultural pesticides. This industry also includes establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing or formulating agricultural chemicals, not elsewhere classified, such as minor or trace elements and soil conditioners. Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing basic or technical agricultural pest control chemicals are classified in Industry Group 281 if the chemicals are inorganic and in Industry Group 286 if they are organic. Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing agricultural lime products are classified in Major Group 32.
Description & Classification
SIC code 2879 representing 'Pesticides and Agricultural Chemicals, NEC' is an industry category in the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system under U.S. OSHA and Federal procurement registers.
Modern NAICS Crosswalk
Trace the modern equivalent classifications in the 2022 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) database:
- NAICS 325320 - Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (via SIC1987:2879→NAICS1997:32532→2002:325320→2007:325320→2012:325320→2017:325320→2022:325320)
Classification Details
| SIC Code | 2879 |
|---|---|
| Industry Title | Pesticides and Agricultural Chemicals, NEC |
| Division | Division D: Manufacturing |
| Major Group | Major Group 28: Chemicals and Allied Products |
| JSON Endpoint | View as JSON · API → |
| Source / Verified | US Census 1987 SIC Concordance / 2026-08-08 |
SIC vs NAICS Compliance & Common Mismatches
Legacy SIC code 2879 classifies commercial operations based on primary end-product or service output under the 1987 federal framework. In contrast, modern 2022 NAICS codes group establishments based on production process inputs.
When submitting public disclosures to SEC EDGAR or determining OSHA workplace safety log recordkeeping exemptions (29 CFR Part 1904), rely strictly on the official OSHA 4-digit SIC classification rather than an automated commercial translation.
💡 Expert Guidance: SIC to NAICS Conversion
Common Compliance Mistake: Many contractors and B2B analysts confuse legacy 4-digit SIC codes like 2879 with modern 6-digit NAICS codes. Ensure that you use the correct active 2022 NAICS code (e.g. from the crosswalk below) when submitting representations on SAM.gov, as federal contracting officers only accept modern NAICS codes.
Related Pages & Tools
Further regulatory reference links for legacy SIC code 2879:
- SIC Codes Complete Compliance Guide — Detailed history and active legal applications of the SIC classification framework.
- Why Legacy SIC Codes Persist Guide — How credit systems and the SEC still rely on SIC metadata.
- SIC ↔ NAICS Crosswalk Tool — Trace industrial code conversions dynamically.
- SIC 2879 to NAICS Crosswalk — Bidirectional mapping to modern NAICS codes (Pesticides and Agricultural Chemicals, NEC).
- SIC Major Group 28 Hub — View other legacy industries in this business division.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What industry sector is represented by legacy SIC code 2879? ▾
Legacy SIC code 2879 represents 'Pesticides and Agricultural Chemicals, NEC', categorized under Division Division D: Manufacturing and Major Group Major Group 28: Chemicals and Allied Products. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system was developed in the late 1930s.
What is the modern 2022 NAICS equivalent for legacy SIC 2879? ▾
Legacy SIC code 2879 maps to the modern 2022 NAICS industry classifications: NAICS 325320 (Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing). Mappings are resolved transitively across successive updates to handle splits.
Why do credit agencies and banks still reference legacy SIC code 2879? ▾
Registries like Dun & Bradstreet, insurance underwriters, and private platforms retain SIC code 2879 because their historical financial risk data and scoring models are indexed using the legacy 4-digit SIC framework.
Does the SEC EDGAR system allow searching public filings by SIC 2879? ▾
Yes. The SEC Division of Corporation Finance assigns a primary 4-digit SIC code to public companies. You can search the EDGAR database using SIC code 2879 to group reporting peer firms.
How do OSHA safety recordkeeping rules apply to SIC code 2879? ▾
Under 29 CFR Part 1904 safety regulations, OSHA references legacy SIC codes including 2879 to determine if a physical establishment is required to maintain daily injury logs (Form 300) or is partially exempt.
What is the structural difference between SIC 2879 and NAICS codes? ▾
SIC code 2879 classifies establishments based on their final product output or market destination (what they sell), while modern NAICS codes classify them based on production processes and inputs (how they work).
What are the typical business activities classified under legacy SIC 2879? ▾
Typical business activities classified under legacy SIC 2879 are the operations associated with 'Pesticides and Agricultural Chemicals, NEC'. Mapped modern NAICS codes can be referenced for specific current examples.
Is legacy SIC code 2879 uniform across all 50 U.S. states? ▾
Yes, the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system, including code 2879, was published as a federal standard and remains uniform nationwide. It is still referenced by various state workers' compensation boards and departments of labor.
Sources & References
- U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA): OSHA Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual — Code 2879
- U.S. Census Bureau: 1987 SIC to 2022 NAICS Concordance Tables
- Federal Reserve Board: Industrial Production & Capacity Utilization Classifications
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Schedule C Principal Business Activity (PBA) Industry Concordance
- Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Standard Industrial Classification Systems Governance