Labels and Labeling
How to read supporting
documents produced by the
manufacturer
Labels and Labeling:
Labels
 The label is an EPA required document
describing allowable use of a product

To the manufacturer it is a license to sell
 To governments (state & federal) it is a way to
control distribution, sale, use, storage, transport,
and disposal of the product
 To the buyer it is the main source of information
about how to use the product safely and legally
 And, to tell the user about any safety measures
needed for appropriate use
Labels and Labeling:
Labels – Required Data
 Name of product,
 Signal words and
 Chemical and common
name of the a.i.
 Ingredient statement
including percent of
content and type of
formulation
 Name and address of
manufacturer
 EPA registration and
establishment numbers





symbols
Pesticide precautionary
statement
WPS requirements and
precautions
Statement of practical
treatment
Directions for use
Plus several other items
Label Information on the Web
• http://www.dupont.com/ag/us/dfo.htm
• http://www.dowagro.com/main/
• http://www.helenachemical.com
• http://www.basf.com
• http://ag.fmc/index2.html
• http://www.gowan.com
• http://www.riverdalecc.com/
Collateral pesticide info
on the web
• http://ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/ghindex.htm
• http://www.epa.gov/opprd001/factsheets
• http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/label/labelque.htm
Permissions in FIFRA
(Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act)
 May use pesticide at a rate lower than listed
on label
 May use a pesticide on a target not listed on
the label -- as long as the site is listed
 May apply the pesticide by a method not
listed on the label as long as the method is
not prohibited on the label
FIFRA REQUIREMENTS
 Site of application must be on the label
for proposed use to be legal
 This
leads to some confusion
For most herbicides “site” is described as “Sitepreparation”, “Conifer release”, etc.
 For insecticides “site” often means the target
pest such as “Gypsy moth” or “Bark beetles on
conifers”

FIFRA REQUIREMENTS
“It is a violation of
federal law to use this
product in a manner
inconsistent with its
labeling”
DO NOT
memorize
label information !!!!!
Look at the label at least four
times
 At the time you prescribe its use
 When the shipment arrives onsite
 At the tailgate safety session for crews
 At the time of disposal
Example chemical?:
Velpar L
*
Garlon 3A
*
Garlon 4
*
Labels and Labeling:
The Velpar L Label
 We’ll use the Velpar L (hexazinone)
label for most of this discussion
 Note that herbicide labels are among
the easiest to read
 (Monsanto’s and the companies which
have bought repackaging rights to
former Monsanto products are the
exception)
Table of
Contents
Formulator
Product name
WPS
Precautions
Statement of
Ingredients
EPA Registr #
Signal words
& human
health
precautions
General
information
Not from the
example label this “DANGER
- POISON”
notice is
required when
appropriate
(LD50 of 50 of
or less)
Return to
Garlon 3A or
Garlon 4 label
Next slide in
presentation
*
Labels and Labeling:
The Garlon 3A Label
 We’ll use the Garlon 3A (triclopyr) label
for most of this discussion
 Note that herbicide labels are among
the easiest to read
 (Monsanto’s and the companies which
have bought repackaging rights to
former Monsanto products are the
exception)
“DANGER – POISON”
Example
*
Next Slide in
presentation
Labels and Labeling:
The Garlon 4 Label
 We’ll use the Garlon 4 (triclopyr) label
for most of this discussion
 Note that herbicide labels are among
the easiest to read
 (Monsanto’s and the companies which
have bought repackaging rights to
former Monsanto products are the
exception)
“DANGER – POISON”
Example
*
Labels and Labeling:
Supplemental labels
 Additional sites of allowable use
 Supplemental labels are easier to
generate than a new label
 But, information from supplemental
labels will be incorporated in the next
version of the label issued
 If the use is maintained
Labels and Labeling:
The MSDS (Material
Safety Data Sheet)
 Content (specific subjects) is now
specified and required by the EPA
 Categories of information are defined so
the information should be easy to find
 Some older MSDSs are still are
available and are often hard to interpret
Labels and Labeling:
Note about Aquatic Labels
 Computation of water volumes often
gives applicators trouble
 Concept of acre foot (see aquatic label
section) is confusing
 So, most aquatic labels include a
calibration table based on desired
application rate and dimensions of the
water body
Label revocation
 Canceled
 A specific use is no longer allowed by newer
labeling – but products with that use listed on
them may be used
 Like a postage stamp – used as originally
permitted
 Suspended
 Specified uses are no longer permitted regardless
of package label
 Think of a hanging – suspended uses are dead
Labels and Labeling:
Labeling
 Supporting information
 Produced by the manufacturer
 Gives technical, environmental, or
application (rate or tool) information
Calibration guides
Product info:
American Cyanamid
Product info
Dow
Product info
DowElanco
Product info
DuPont
Product info
Monsanto
Product info
NovArtis