Pesticide Labeling Applying Pesticides Correctly-EPA Core Manual-Unit 2 (Pesticide Labeling )

1. PesticideLabelingApplying Pesticides Correctly-EPACore Manual-Unit 2 (Pesticide Labeling ) April 2004

2. Pesticide Product Labeling • Is the main method of communication between a pesticide manufacturer and the pesticide user.

3. Pesticide Product Labeling • The information attached to the pesticide container is the label. • Labeling includes the label plus all other information you receive from the manufacturer about the product when you buy it.

4. Pesticide Product Labeling • Labeling can come in the form of pamphlets or brochures. By law you must have all the pesticide labeling with you when you apply the pesticide. Not just the pesticide container.

5. Pesticide Product Labeling • To the manufacturer it is the license to sell the product.

6. Pesticide Product Labeling • To medical personnel it can be an important source of treatment information in the case of poisoning.

7. Pesticide Product Labeling • To the applicator it is directions on how to use the product safely and properly.

8. Pesticide Product Labeling • To the government it is a means for control. If a pesticide poses an unreasonable risk to people or the environment its uses can be restricted or cancelled. For example uses of DDT, chlordane, 2,4,5-T and others have been cancelled in the U.S.

9. EPA Approval of Pesticide Labeling • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must approve the manufacture's application for registration before the product can be used.

10. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)7 U.S.C. s/s 136 et seq. (1972) • Provides for federal control of pesticide distribution, sale, and use. • EPA was given authority under FIFRA to study the consequences of pesticide usage and require users (farmers, utility companies, and others) to register when purchasing pesticides.

11. FIFRA (con’t) • Through later amendments to the law, users also must take exams for certification as applicators of pesticides. • All pesticides used in the U.S. must be registered (licensed) by EPA. • Registration assures that pesticides will be properly labeled and that if used in accordance with specifications, will not cause unreasonable harm to the environment.

12. FIFRA (con’t) • For questions concerning pesticides you can call the Pesticide Team in EPA's regional 8 office in Denver, at: • 1-800-227-8917

13. Types of Registration • There are three major types of registration • Federal registration (Section 3) • special local needs registration (SLN or Section 24c) • emergency exemptions from registration (Section 18)

14. Classification of Pesticide Uses • Unclassified or General Use • for use by the general public. • Roundup, 2,4-D, malathion • Restricted Use • must have a license to apply • Tordon 22k, Temik, zinc phosphide

15. Restricted Use Pesticide • A pesticide or some of its uses are classified as restricted if it could cause harm to humans or to the environment unless it is applied by certified applicators who have the knowledge to use these pesticides safely and effectively.

16. Certified Pesticide Applicators • Private applicators use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides to produce an agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by themselves or their employer, or on the property of another person with whom they trade services.

17. Certified Pesticide Applicators • Commercial applicators use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides on any property or for any purpose other than that listed for private applicators.

18. Certified Pesticide Applicators • In Wyoming, Commercial applicator also means a certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of any pesticide during any commercial application that is done by contract or hire.

19. Parts of Pesticide Labeling • The information on pesticide labeling usually is grouped under headings to make it easier to find. • Some information is required by law to appear on a certain part of the labeling or under certain headings. • Other information may be placed wherever the manufacturer chooses.

20. Brand Name • Each manufacturer has a brand name for each of its products. • You must beware of choosing a product by brand name alone.

21. Brand Name (cont.) • Companies may use the same basic brand name with only minor variations to designate different products.

26. Brand Name (cont.) • Different companies may sell the same product under different brand names • Weedar 64 = 4 lbs 2,4-D amine/gal (Nufarm, Inc.) • Weed Pro 4# Amine = 4 lbs 2,4-D amine/gal (Van Diest Supply Company)

27. Brand Name (cont.) • Always read the ingredient statement to determine the active ingredients that a product contains.

28. Ingredient Statement • A pesticide label must list what is in the product. • It must tell what the active ingredients are and the amount of each ingredient as a percentage of the total.

29. Ingredient Statement (con't) • It must also list the chemical name and/or the common name for each active ingredient. • Inert ingredients need not be named but the label must show what percentage of the total contents they make up.

30. Ingredient Statement (con't) • For example a label with the brand name Tordon 22K would read:Active Ingredient(s): • Picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid), as the potassium salt.............................................……………….…………………...................24.4% • Inert Ingredients........................................................…………………..........75.6% • Total........................................................................…………………............100.0% • Acid Equivalent: • Picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) - 21.1% - 2 lb/gal • E.P.A. Registration No. 62719-6 E.P.A. Est. 464-MI-1

31. Registration and Establishment Numbers • These numbers are needed in case of poisoning or misuse claims. • Active Ingredient(s): • Picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid), as the potassium salt........................……………......................………………......................24.4% • Inert Ingredients............................................................……………….......75.6% • Total………………....................................................................................100.0% • Acid Equivalent: • Picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) - 21.1% - 2 lb/gal • E.P.A. Registration No. 62719-6 E.P.A. Est. 464-MI-1

32. Registration Number • The registration number indicates that the pesticide label has been approved by EPA. • Most products contain two sets of numbers. The first set identifies the company. The second set identifies the product.

33. Registration Number (con't) • State or SLN registrations • SLN = Special Local Need • EPA SLN No. WY-840001

34. Establishment Number • Identifies the facility where the product was made.

35. Name and Address of Manufacturer • The law requires the maker or distributor of a product to put the name and address of the company on the label. • Monsanto Company • Agricultural Products • St. Louis, Missouri 63167 U.S.A.

36. Net Contents • Tells you how much product is in the container.

37. Type of Pesticide • This statement indicates what the product will control. • Tordon 22K • Susceptible broadleaf weeds and woody plants • Guthion 2S • Emulsifiable Insecticide • Benlate • Fungicide

38. Type of Formulation • Some pesticide labels will tell you what kind of formulation the product is. • WP = wettable powder • D = dust • EC = emulsifiable concentrate

39. Restricted-Use Designation • The label will state "Restricted Use Pesticide" in a box at the top of the front panel. • RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDE • May injure (Phytotoxic) Susceptible, Non-target Plants. For retail sale to and use only by Certified Applicators or persons under their direct supervision and only for those uses covered by the Certified Applicator's certification. Commercial certified applicators must also ensure that all persons involved in these activities are informed of the precautionary statements.

40. Front-PanelPrecautionary StatementsSignal Words and Symbols • Three toxicity categories with associated signal words and symbols • 1. Highly toxic • Danger-Poison with skull and crossbones • 2. Moderately toxic • Warning • 3. Low or relatively nontoxic • Caution

41. Front-PanelPrecautionary StatementsSignal Words and Symbols • The signal word -- DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION -- must appear on the front panel of the label.

42. Signal Words and Symbols (con't) • Indicate how acutely toxic the product is to humans. • It is immediately below the statement, "Keep out of reach of children," which also must appear on every label.

43. Signal Words and Symbols (con't) • Is not based on the active ingredients alone, but on the contents of the formulated product (includes active ingredients, carriers, solvents, or inert ingredients).

44. Signal Words and Symbols (con't) • Indicates the risk of acute effects from the four routes of exposure to a pesticide product (oral, dermal, inhalation, and eye) and is based on the one that is the greatest.

45. Signal Words and Symbols (con't) • The signal word does not indicate the risk of delayed effects or allergic effects. • Use the signal word to help you decide what precautionary measures are needed for protection.

46. Signal Words and Symbols (con't) • DANGER -- POISON • Highly toxic. Very likely to cause acute illness, cause severe eye or skin injury, or DEATH.

48. Signal Words and Symbols (con't) • DANGER -- POISON • Only takes a taste to a teaspoon taken by mouth to cause your death. • LD50 = ~0 to 50 mg/kg (ppm)

49. Signal Words and Symbols (con't) • What is LD50? • It is the lethal oral dose in mg of toxicant (pesticide) per kg of body weight (ppm) required to kill 50% of a test population of animals, usually rats or mice. • This information is then used to estimate the toxicity of the pesticide to humans.

50. Signal Words and Symbols (con't) • What is LD50? (con’t) • The lower the LD50 the more toxic the pesticide. • Usually will not find on the pesticide labeling. • It may be used to compare the relative toxicity of different chemicals.