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
