The Pesticide Product Label: Background
EPA-required sections of the label:
- Restricted Use Pesticide Statement - if applicable
This section of the label, if applicable, includes the references to “restricted use”,
which under FIFRA Section 3 (d)(1)(c) describes those pesticides that require “additional
regulatory restrictions” to avoid potential unreasonable adverse effects on the environment.
- Product Name, Brand or Trademark
- Ingredient Statement and Net Contents/Net Weight
The IS section of the label identifies the name and the percentage by weight of each
active ingredient and the percentage by weight of other/inert ingredients. If the size or form
of the product package makes it impracticable to place the ingredient statement on the front
panel of the label, permission may be granted for the ingredient statement to appear
elsewhere.
The NC/NW section identifies the weight or volume of pesticide in the container.
- "Keep Out of Reach of Children" (KOOROC) Statement
This specific statement, which is commonly referred to as the KOOROC statement
("child hazard warning"), appears on almost all end use pesticide products except those
pesticides that are intended for use on children or where it is demonstrated that children will
not come in contact with the product. In these cases, a modified statement is allowed.
- Signal Word
Signal words which correspond to the toxicity categories for product hazards (e.g.,
oral, dermal) appear on the front panel of the label.
- EPA Registration Number & Establishment Number
The EPA Registration Number is the single most important piece of information for
tracking pesticide products. The EPA Registration Number must appear on the label of the
product.
The EPA Establishment Number identifies the final physical location where the
pesticide product was produced or labeled. The EPA Establishment Number may appear on
any suitable location on the label or immediate container, however it must appear on the
wrapper or outside container of the package if the number cannot be clearly read through the
wrapper or container.
- Company Name & Address
This section of the label identifies the name and address of the producer, registrant or
person for whom the product is produced.
(continued)
- Precautionary Statements
1. Hazards to Humans and Domestic Animals
Where a hazard exists to humans or domestic animals precautionary
statements that describe the particular hazard, route of exposure and precautions to be taken
must appear on the label.
2. First Aid (Statement of Practical Treatment)
This section of the label provides information to the pesticide user concerning
appropriate first aid for the various routes of exposure associated with accidental exposure.
A first aid statement must appear on the front panel of all Toxicity Category I pesticides.
(The front panel must include a reference such as “See statement of practical treatment on
back panel” near the word “poison” and the skull and crossbones if EPA allows the first aid
information to appear on the back panel.)
3. Environmental Hazards
Where a hazard exists to non-target organisms, precautionary statements that
identify the hazards and necessary precautions must appear on the label.
4. Physical or Chemical Hazards
Hazards such as flammability, explosive potential or dielectric breakdown and
the various precautions to be taken must be identified, as applicable.
- Directions for Use
This section of the label provides instructions to the user on how to use the product,
and identifies the pest(s) to be controlled, the application sites, application rates and any
required application equipment. This section may also include certain worker protection
issues such as a reentry statement, which identifies the specific time period following
treatment during which entry into a treated area is restricted. WPS ag/non-ag use
requirements are usually placed at the beginning of this section.
- Storage and Disposal
This section of the label provides instructions for storing the pesticide product and for
disposing of any unused pesticide and the pesticide container.
- Warranty Statement
This is a disclaimer statement included voluntarily on most pesticide products by the
registrant.
Signal Word Designation:
The term “LD50” expresses the level of toxicity of a chemical. “LD” means lethal dose.
LD50 is the dose, based on weight, which will kill 50% of a population of test animals. The
higher the LD50 value, the less acutely toxic the chemical. This value is usually expressed as
milligrams/kilogram of body weight. A chemical with an LD50 of 5,000 mg/kg requires
about 0.1 ounce of the chemical per pound of body weight to reach the LD50 value. For a
150-pound person, this would be about 15 ounces.
Acute oral exposure refers to a single dose taken by mouth (ingested). Acute dermal
exposure means a single dose touching the skin or eyes (skin absorption). Acute inhalation
exposure is an intake of a breath of contaminated air.
The labels on pesticide products have “signal words” to convey the degree of toxicity of the
product. Signal words also may tell you whether the product is caustic (burns) or is an
environmental hazard. They are as follows:
CAUTION: Slightly toxic.
WARNING: Moderately toxic.
DANGER: Highly toxic or hazardous in some manner. A DANGER signal word indicates
that the product may cause acute illness from oral, dermal, or inhalation exposure OR cause
severe eye or skin irritation:
- Acute Oral - Up to and including an LD50 of 50 mg/kg.
- Acute Dermal - Up to and including 200 mg/kg.
- Acute Inhalation - Up to and including 0.05 mg/liter (4 hr exposure).
- Primary Eye Irritation - Corrosive (irreversible destruction of ocular tissue) or corneal
involvement or irritation persisting for more than 21 days.
- Primary Skin Irritation - Corrosive (tissue destruction into the dermis and/or scarring)
In addition to the DANGER signal word, the word POISON and the SKULL and
CROSSBONES symbol must be displayed on labels of products that are acutely toxic via
oral, dermal, or inhalation exposure. In addition, it is recommended if the inert ingredient
methanol is present at 4% or more in the subject product.
Sources:
EPA Label Review Manual - 3rd Edition
http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/labeling/lrm/
VA Core Manual: Applying Pesticides Correctly (2005)
PAH/VTPP
PSEC/September 2006