The Pesticide Label

agricultural use steps

1. notify employees when and where pesticides occur/post info at a central location; 2. train workers in safety and handling; 3. provide protective equipment and decontamination materials; 4. monitor handlers using Category I (highly toxic) pesticides; 5. provide medical treatment

parts of the pesticide label

19 different topics must be covered on the label

common name

a name given to a pesticides active ingredient by a recognized committee on a pesticide nomenclature (the common name for Sevin insecticide is carbaryl); the official common name is usually followed by the chemical name

FIFRA exceptions

a pesticide may be applied to control a target pest not specified on the label, provided the pesticide is applied to a plant, crop, animal, or site specifically listed on the label; any method of application may be used that is not prohibited by the label, except for chemigation; a pesticide may be applied at a dosage, concentration, or frequency less than that specified on the label; a pesticide-fertilizer or pesticide-pesticide mixture may be used if the combination is not prohibited

precautionary statements

additional statements to help applicators decide the precautions to take to protect themselves, etc

classification statement

classified by the EPA as either restricted use or unclassified/general use; restricted use label required; label will not bear a restricted use statement if it is just classified as that by the state

danger peligro

corrosive - causes eye damage and severe skin burns (SAS) do not: breathe in vapors; get on skin/clothing; get in eyes

signal words

danger-poison peligro + a skull and crossbones: must appear on highly toxic products; lethal at low doses danger peligro: can cause eye damage/skin irritation; not lethal at low doses warning aviso: moderately toxic caution: slightly toxic

preharvest intervals

days to harvest

physical or chemical hazards

describes any special fire, explosion, or chemical hazards the product may pose; label should be checked for hazard statements prior to use

danger-poison peligro

fatal if swallowed; poisonous if inhaled; extremely hazardous by skin contact

statement of practical treatment

first-aid treatments recommended in case of emergency; just use common sense

specific action statements (SAS)

follow after the route of entry statements; help prevent pesticide poisoning by recommending necessary precautions and correct protective clothing/equipment; directly related to the toxicity of the product (signal word)/ routes of entry

routes of entry statement

follows the signal word; indicate which routes of entry (mouth, skin, eyes, lungs) are vulnerable and need protection

personal protective equipment (PPE) statements

give basic guidelines of how to protect yourself when using pesticides; if no PPE is present, consider the signal word/route of entry/SAS

preslaughter intervals

grazing restrictions

storage and disposal

guidelines for storing and disposing properly of pesticides; may not be super specific, as state and local laws vary

caution

harmful if swallowed; may be harmful if inhaled; may irritate eyes, nose, throat, and skin (SAS) avoid: contact with skin; breathing dust, vapors, or sprays; getting in eyes

warning aviso

harmful or fatal if swallowed; harmful or fatal if absorbed through skin; harmful or fatal if inhaled; causes skin and eye irritation (SAS) combine from danger and caution labels

establishment numbers

identifies the facility that produced the product in case a problem arises or the product is found to have been adulterated (altered with impurities) in any way

special toxicity statements

indicates hazards to wildlife (ie. this product is highly toxic to bees)

signal words and symbol

indicates relative toxicity of the product to humans and animals; very low toxicity pesticides (category IV) are no longer required to display a signal word

name and address of the manufacturer

info provided so you will know who to contact if needed

endangered species restrictions

it is unlawful to kill any threatened or endangered species by any means; violation of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) carries substantial civil and criminal penalties; the Act was administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

type of pesticide

listed on the front panel of the label; lists in general terms what the product will control ie. insecticide for control of certain insects on fruits, nuts, and ornamentals

agricultural use requirements

most pesticides used in agriculture carry label statements requiring compliance with the federal Worker Protection Standard regulation (40 CFR Part 170); requirements may vary in the Agricultural Use Requirements Section

registration numbers

must appear on all labels, aside from spray adjuvants; number indicates product is registered and the label approved by the EPA; "special local need" or SLN will appear on the label if it is specifically registered for use in WA

ingredient statement

must list every active ingredient/percentage; inert ingredients are not usually named/label must show what percentage they comprise; must list official chemical names

trade, brand, or product name

on the front of the label; used in advertisements

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

provide detailed information about the product's composition, physical and chemical properties and hazards, toxicological and ecological information, and first aid procedures; useful documents for learning about specific chemical and physical properties of pesticides

worker safety

provides workers who work near or in treated areas with safety precautions; label requirements vary; for an application of a pesticide with an REI greater than 24 hours to any labor-intensive agricultural crop, L&I has regulations regarding posting of fields

general environmental statements

reminders to use common sense; may follow a specific toxicity statement

other precautionary statements

should always be followed: do not contaminate food/feed; remove and wash contaminated clothing before reuse; wash thoroughly after handling; wear clean clothes daily; do not use or store in and around a house; do not allow children/animals into the area

restricted entry interval (REI)

tell how much time must pass before people can reenter a treated area without protective clothing and equipment; set by the EPA and some states; illegal to ignore REIs; the minimum legal REI: all unprotected people must wait at least until sprays have dried or dusts have settled before entering without PPE

directions for use

tell you: the pests they claim to control; the plant, crop, animal, or site the product is intended to protect; preharvest and preslaughter intervals; proper equipment to use; how much to use (rate) and how often to apply; compatibility; phytotoxicity; where/when to apply; if it's labeled for chemigation

chemical name

the complex name that identifies the chemical components and structure of the pesticide

net contents

the front panel of the label shows how much product is in the container (either lbs or oz for dry formulations or gallons, quarts, or pints)

tolerance

the maximum amount of a pesticide residue that may legally remain on or in food or feed at harvest or slaughter (which is established by the EPA, the FIFRA, and the FQPA); expressed in ppm

testing the new pesticide

toxicitiy tests; efficacy and performance tests; degradation, mobility, and residue tests; making notes of the effects on wildlife/environment; EPA label review

formulation statement

type of formulation (wettable powder, bait) may be identified on the label; if not, it will be in the "directions for use"

environmental hazards

watch for labels to see impact on environment and use caution

before mixing the pesticide, read the label to determine:

what PPE you should use; what the pesticide can be mixed with (compatibility); how much pesticide to use; the mixing procedure

before applying the pesticide, read the label to determine:

what safety measures you should follow; where the pesticide can be used; when to apply the pesticide; whether there are any pesticide use restrictions

before storing or disposing of the pesticide/container, read the label to determine:

where and how to store the pesticide; how to dispose of the pesticide container; where to dispose of surplus pesticide

before buying a pesticide, read the label to determine:

whether it is the pesticide you need for the job; whether the pesticide can be used safely under the application conditions; whether you have the necessary PPE; how much pesticide is needed