Transcript The Pesticide Label - Montana State University

The Pesticide Label
Montana Pesticide Education
& Safety Program
The Pesticide Label
What You Need To Ask!
 The right chemical for the job?
 Correct conditions for safe
application?
 Will it control the target pest?
The Pesticide Label
What You Need To Ask!
 Do I have the proper
protective equipment (PPE)?
 How much should I use?
Questions the label doesn’t
answer directly...
 What does all of this information
really mean?
 Why should I really care?
 It’s
a legal document
 Misuse could cause various problems
Why should I really care?
 The label is a legal document
 Applying a pesticide in a manner
inconsistent with the label is illegal
 “I didn’t know it said that”

not a good defense if you misuse a
pesticide
It is a violation of Federal
law to use this pesticide in
a manner inconsistent with
its labeling.
I’m an
experienced
applicator…
I’m too busy…
Common
excuses
for not
reading
the label
I’ve used
this product
for years…
Labels Change!
I’ve used
this product
for years…
Re-registration
of products under
the Food Quality Protection
Act (FQPA)
Problems caused by not
reading and following the label
 Crop loss
 Fish kills
 Near fatal exposures
 Fatal exposures
 Fire and explosions
Use Classification Statement
 Two types of classification
Restricted
Use
General Use
Use Classification Statement
 Restricted Use:

For sale to, and for use only by,
certified applicators or
applicators under the direct
supervision of a certified
applicator
Net Contents
 Front panel of labels shows
how much product is in
container
 Liquid formulations may list the
pounds of active ingredient per
gallon of product
Ingredient Statement
 Active Ingredients:
 Inert Ingredients:
Ingredient Statement
Ingredient Statement
 Inert Ingredients
 Listed
as total percentage
in the product
Ingredient Statement
 Active Ingredients
 The
part of the product that
actually controls the pest(s)
Ingredient Statement
 Active Ingredient:
 Each
active ingredient must
be listed by individual
percentage
Active Ingredients
 Many active ingredients are
given a common name
 Only common names accepted
by the EPA may be used on the
label
Active Ingredients
 Official common name is usually
followed by the chemical name
in the list of active ingredients
Trade, Brand,
or Product Names
 Companies register trade
names as a trademark
 The same active ingredient
may be sold under different
trade names
Trade or Brand Names
Be careful, some products with:
Different brand names may have
the same active ingredients
Example: Metsulfuron methyl is
the active ingredient in:
Ally
Escort
Cimarron
(1 of 3)
Does this mean that I
can substitute these
products for each other ?
Only if the label allows!
Does this mean that I
can substitute these
products for each other ?
Only if the label allows:
Poison Hemlock in noncrop areas?
Only Escort
Can I substitute these
products for each other to
control aquatic weeds ?
Same active ingredient: ?? Glyphosate
Same active ingredient: ??
Glyphosate
Same active ingredient: ??
Glyphosate
Environmental Hazards:
Do not apply directly to water, or areas where
surface water is present, or intertidal areas
below the mean high water mark. Do not
contaminate water when cleaning equipment
or disposing of equipment wash water.
Trade, Brand,
or Product Names
 Brand Name can often include:
 The
percent of active ingredient
incorporated into the product name
 Type of pesticide
The following pesticide
applications are considered off
label and therefore are illegal:
 Applying above the highest
dose rate
 Applying more frequently than
the label allows
 Applying without using PPE
 Applying to a site that is not on
the label
Signal Words
 The word on the label that tells
the potential hazards of the
product

Danger Poison
w/ skull & Crossbones



Danger
Warning
Caution
Signal Words
 DANGER-POISON
with a skull and crossbones
symbol
(Spanish for “danger”
must also appear on the
label)
 Indicates the product is highly
toxic by any route of entry
 Peligro
Signal Words
 DANGER
 Indicates
that the product has a
high potential to irritate skin and
eyes
Signal Words
 WARNING
 Product
is moderately toxic
 Can also cause slight eye or skin
irritation
Signal Words
 CAUTION
 Harmful
if swallowed or inhaled
 May irritate eyes, nose, throat,
and skin
EPA Registration Number
 Not an endorsement by the EPA
 Indicates that the product has
passed all tests required by EPA
 Human
health testing
 Environmental testing
 Wildlife toxicities
EPA Registration Number
 If a product contains an active
ingredient on EPA’s 25B list, no
EPA registration number is
required
 25B list contains 31 active
ingredients that are “non-toxic”

i.e., Mint oil, dried blood, citronella
EPA Establishment Number
 Tells where that product was
made
 Important
if it is ever necessary to
recall the product
 Includes abbreviation of state of
origin
Emergency Number
Contact number in the event
of human exposure, spill,
accident, or environmental
exposure
Emergency Number
New national
poison center number
Personal Protective
Equipment
 Tells applicators what Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) should be worn to
minimize exposure
 Often different for different tasks
Precautionary Statements
 Other precautions that should be
followed when handling the product
 Common sense practices to minimize
exposure to applicators, the
environment and others who may come
in contact with the treated area
User Safety Recommendations:
Users should wash hands before eating,
drinking, chewing gum, using tobacco or
using the toilet
Users should remove clothing
immediately if pesticide gets inside.
Then wash thoroughly and put on clean
clothing.
Users should remove PPE immediately
after handling this product. Wash the
outside of gloves before removing. As
soon as possible, wash thoroughly and
change into clean clothing.
Chemical Hazards
 Combustible

Do not store near heat or open
flame.
 Highly corrosive
 Oxidizer
Chemical Hazards
 Incompatibilities
 Do
not mix, store, or apply this
product or spray solutions of this
product in galvanized steel or
unlined steel (except stainless
steel)
Storage and Disposal
O
Storage: Store above 10 F
o
(12 C) to keep product from
crystallizing. Crystals will settle to
the bottom. If allowed to
crystallize, place in a warm room
o
o
(68 F or 20 C) for several days to
allow crystals to redissolve, then
shake before using.
Directions for Use
 Guidelines for use of the
product
 What pests it will control
 What crops it can be used on
Directions for Use
 Annual Maximum Rate
 Precautions and restrictions
 Mixing instructions
 Calibration
Worker Protection Standards
(WPS)
 Within the Agricultural Use
Requirements box you will find
 Restricted
entry
interval (REI)
 Early entry PPE
requirements
 Worker notification
Agricultural Use Requirements
Use this product in accordance with its labeling and with
the Worker Protection Standard, 40 CFR part 170.
This standard contains requirements for the protection of
agricultural workers on farms, forests, nurseries, and
greenhouses, and handlers of agricultural pesticides. It
contains requirements for training, decontamination,
notification and emergency assistance. It also contains
specific instructions and exceptions pertaining to the
statements of this label about personal protective
equipment and restricted entry interval. The requirements
in this box only apply to uses of this product that are
covered by the Worker Protection Standard.
Agricultural Use Requirements
Do not enter or allow worker entry into treated areas during
the restricted-entry interval (REI) of 4 hours.
PPE required for early entry to treated areas that is
permitted under the Worker Protection Standard and that
involves contact with anything that has been treated, such
as plants, soil, or water, is: coveralls, chemical resistant
gloves Category A, shoes plus socks.
Notify workers of the application by warning them orally
and by posting warning signs at entrances to treated
areas.
Trade Name
Review
Ingredient
Statement
Review
WPS
Review
EPA Reg.
and
Est. No.
Review
Net
Contents
Review
Signal Word
Review
Emergency
Info.
Review
Storage
and
Disposal
Review