Pesticide Labeling
Pesticide product labeling is the main method of communication between a pesticide manufacturer and pesticide users. The information printed on or attached to the pesticide container is the label. Labeling includes the label itself, plus all other information you receive from the manufacturer about the product when you buy it. Pesticide labeling gives you instructions on how to use, store and dispose of the product safely and correctly. Pesticide users are required by law to comply with all the instructions and directions for use in pesticide labeling.
EPA Approval of Pesticide Labeling
EPA reviews the labeling to make sure that it contains all the information needed for safe and effective use of the pesticide product. EPA may require the manufacturer to change the labeling if it does not contain enough information or if the information is wrong. EPA also may require that the labeling include other information about laws or regulations that have been adopted to protect humans or the environment.
Parts of Pesticide Labeling
The information on pesticide labeling usually is grouped under headings to make it easier to find the information you need. Some information is required by law to appear on a certain part of the labeling or under certain headings. Other information may be placed wherever the manufacturer chooses.
Identifying Information
Pesticide labeling contains basic information that helps users clearly identify the product. Some of these items will be on the front panel of every label, because EPA requires that they appear there. Other items, while generally on the front panel, may be located elsewhere on the label or in the labeling if the manufacturer chooses.
Brand name -- Each manufacturer has a brand name for each of its products. Different manufacturers may use different brand names for the same pesticide active ingredient. The brand or trade name is the one used in advertisements and by company salespeople. The brand name shows up plainly on the front panel of the label. Always read the ingredient statement to determine the active ingredients that a product contains.
Ingredient statement -- Each pesticide label must list what is in the product. The list is written so you can readily see what the active ingredients are and the amount of each ingredient (as a percentage of the total product). The ingredient statement must list the official chemical name and/or common name for each active ingredient. Inert ingredients need not be named, but the label must show what percent of the total contents they make up.
The chemical name is a complex name that identifies the chemical components and structure of the pesticide. This name is almost always listed in the ingredient statement on the label.
Because pesticides have complex chemical names, many are given a shorter common name. The official common name may be followed by the chemical name in the list of active ingredients.
Registration and establishment numbers -- These numbers are needed by the pesticide handler in case of poisoning, claims of misuse, or liability claims. An EPA registration number indicates that the pesticide label has been approved by EPA.
The establishment number appears on either the pesticide label or container. It identifies the facility where the product was made. In case there are questions or concerns about the pesticide product, the facility that made the product can be determined.
Name and address of manufacturer -- The law requires the maker or distributor of a product to put the name and address of the company on the label. This is so you will know who made or sold the product.
Net contents -- The front panel of the pesticide label tells you how much is in the container.
Type of pesticide -- The type of pesticide usually is listed on the front panel of the label. This short statement indicates in general terms what the product will control.
Type of formulation -- The front panel of some pesticide labels will tell you what kind of formulation the product is. The formulation may be named or the label may show only an abbreviation, such as WP for wettable powder, D for dust, or EC for emulsifiable concentrate.
Restricted-Use Designation
When a pesticide is classified as restricted, the label will state "Restricted Use Pesticide" in a box at the top of the front panel. Below this heading may be a statement describing the reason for the restricted-use classification. Usually another statement will describe the category of certified applicator who can purchase and use the product. Restricted-Use pesticides may only be used by applicators certified by the state or by the EPA. Pesticides that are unclassified have no designation on the product label.
Front-Panel Precautionary Statements
Signal words and symbols -- The signal word -- DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION -- must appear in large letters on the front panel of the pesticide label. It indicates how acutely toxic the product is to humans. It reflects the hazard of any active ingredients, carriers, solvents, or inert ingredients. The signal word is immediately below the statement, "Keep out of reach of children, "which also must appear on every label.
Use the signal word to help you decide what precautionary measures are needed for yourself, your workers, and other persons (or animals) that may be exposed.
- DANGER -- This word signals you that the pesticide is highly toxic. The product is very likely to cause acute illness from oral, dermal, or inhalation exposure, or to cause severe eye or skin irritation.
- POISON/SKULL AND CROSSBONES -- All highly toxic pesticides that are very likely to cause acute illness through oral, dermal, or inhalation exposure also will carry the word POISON printed in red and the skull and crossbones symbol. Products that have the signal word DANGER due to skin and eye irritation potential will not carry the word POISON or the skull and crossbones symbol.
- WARNING -- This word signals you that the product is moderately likely to cause acute illness from oral, dermal, or inhalation exposure or that the product is likely to cause moderate skin or eye irritation.
- CAUTION -- This word signals you that the product is slightly toxic or relatively nontoxic. The product has only slight potential to cause acute illness from oral, dermal, or inhalation exposure. The skin or eye irritation it would cause, if any, is likely to be slight.
Statement of practical treatment (first aid) -- Most pesticide products are required to include instructions on how to respond to an emergency exposure involving that product. The instructions usually include first aid measures and may include instructions to seek medical help.
Hazards to Humans and Domestic Animals
Acute effects statements -- The label or labeling will contain statements that indicate which route of entry (mouth skin, eyes, lungs) you must particularly protect and what specific action you need to take to avoid acute effects from exposure to the pesticide. The statements will warn you if you may be harmed by swallowing or inhaling the product or getting it on your skin or in your eyes.
Delayed effects statements -- The labeling of pesticides that the Environmental Protection Agency considers to have the potential to cause delayed effects must warn you of that fact. These statements will tell you whether the product has been shown to cause problems such as tumors or reproductive problems in laboratory animals.
Allergic effects statement -- If tests or other data indicate that the pesticide product has the potential to cause allergic effects, such as skin irritation or asthma, the product labeling must state that fact. Sometimes the labeling refers to allergic effects as "sensitization."
Personal protective equipment statements -- Immediately following the statements about acute, delayed, and allergic effects, the labeling usually lists personal protective equipment requirements. These statements tell you the minimum personal protective equipment that you must wear when using the pesticide. Sometimes the statements will require different personal protective equipment for different pesticide handling activities. Sometimes the statements will allow reduced personal protective equipment when you use safety systems, such as closed systems.
Environmental Hazards
This section of the pesticide labeling will indicate precautions for protecting the environment when you use the pesticide. Some general statements appear on the labeling of nearly every pesticide. Most pesticide labeling, for example, will warn you not to contaminate water when you apply the pesticide or when you clean your equipment or dispose of pesticide wastes. The labeling will contain specific precautionary statements if the pesticide poses a specific hazard to the environment. For example, it may warn you that the product is highly toxic to bees or other wildlife.
Physical or Chemical Hazards
This section of the pesticide labeling will tell you of any special fire, explosion, or chemical hazards the product may pose. For example, it will alert you if the product is so flammable that you need to be especially careful to keep it away from heat or open flame or if it is so corrosive that it must be stored in a corrosion-resistant container. When pesticides are flammable, smoking while handling them is extremely hazardous.
Directions for Use
Directly under the heading "Directions for Use" on every pesticide product labeling is the following statement: "It is a violation of Federal Law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling." The Directions for Use section also contains sections on storage and disposal and may contain a section on entry into treated areas after a pesticide application. In addition, the Directions for Use section will contain the specific directions for using the product.
Use inconsistent with the labeling -- It is illegal to use a pesticide in any way not permitted by the labeling. A pesticide may be used only on the plants, animals, or sites named in the directions for use. You may not use higher dosages, higher concentrations, or more frequent applications. You must follow all directions for use, including directions concerning safety, mixing, diluting, storage, and disposal. You must wear the specified personal protective equipment even though you may be risking only your own safety by not wearing it. The use directions and instructions are not advice, they are requirements.
Entry statement -- Some pesticide labeling contains a precaution about entering a treated area after application. This statement tells you how much time must pass before people can enter a treated area except under special circumstances.
Storage and disposal -- All pesticide labeling contains some instructions for storing the pesticide. These may include both general statements, such as "Keep out of reach of children and pets," and specific directions, such as "Do not store in temperatures below 32 degreesF."
Pesticide labeling also contains some general information about how to dispose of excess pesticide and the pesticide container in ways that are acceptable under Federal regulations. State and local laws vary, however, so the labeling usually does not give exact disposal instructions.
Additional Resources
Authors:
Philip G. Koehler, University of Florida
Robert A. Belmont, Florida Pest Control Association
This file is part of the UF/IFAS Basic Pesticide Training manual (SM-59) which is intended to provide intermediate training to pest control operators. The manual was adapted from a larger manual, Applying Pesticides Properly, which was developed by Ohio State University in cooperation with the Cooperative Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Published: March, 1998
