Understanding Pesticide Labels and Labeling




Pesticide labels and labeling are among the most important documents that pesticide applicators see. Label refers to the information printed on the product container. Labeling refers to an information printed on, attached to , or accompanying your purchase. The pesticide user is legally responsible to follow all label directions.

Under the "Directions for Use" section of the label is usually a statement that reads as follows: It is Violation of Federal Law to Use This Product in a manner Inconsistent with its Labeling. The user is personally liable if a pesticide application results in unwanted damage. Chemical companies are very careful to include disclaimers on their products' labels, which transfers all risks to the buyers of their products.

A LABEL-- Refers only to information printed on the product container. All labels, which are essentially the manufacturer's license to sell, provide the important facts about Distribution, Storage, Sale, Use, Disposal, and Safety measures Required for the Pesticide.
LABELING-- Refers to any information printed on, attached to, or accompanying your purchase. This may include such things as brochures, leaflets, and information handed out by your dealer.

What is a Pesticide?

A pesticide, as defined by FIFRA, is "... any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any insect, rodent, nematode, fungus, weed or any other forms of life declared to be pests; and any substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant."

Pesticide Registration


Registration of Pesticides is designed to protect people and the environment from abuse of pesticide use. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1947 was primarily a labeling law and was originally administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It has been amended several times to increase and expand the protection of users of pesticides, our food and the environment.

Amendments made in 1972 require that pesticides be classified for either general or restricted use. Further people who apply restricted use pesticides either commercially or privately are required to be certified by the respective states.

Data Requirements for Registration

As specified in amended FIFRA, all pesticides must be registered. This includes all pesticides used in and around the home, swimming pools, businesses, public buildings and in agriculture. Before any registration is issued, however, the manufacturer (applicant) must submit data to the Pesticide Registration Division of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showing that the product when used as directed:

  • is effective against the pest(s) listed on the label.
  • will not injure humans, animals, or crops, or damage the environment
  • will not result in illegal residues on feed and food

    • Parts of the label
    1. BRAND NAME-- Appears boldly on the label. It is the name by which the product is advertised.
    Common name-- The same chemical may appear on the shelf under several brand names, but the common name, or chemical name, may be the same. Chemical names may be complicated, so common names may be used. An example is carbaryl for 1-napthyl N-methylcarbamate.
    2. ACTIVE INGREDIENTS-- Listed by either chemical name or common name. Must be stated as a percentage by weight or pounds per gallon of concentrate.
    3. INERT INGREDIENTS-- Need not be listed, but percent of their content must be. Inert ingredients are currently placed into four categories by the EPA. They include:
  • Inerts of toxicological concern
  • Potentially toxic inerts
  • Inerts of unknown toxicity
  • Inerts of minimal concern


    • Types of Formulations-- Pesticides come in different forms: liquids, wettable powders, dusts, etc. Each form is handled differently, and the label identifies the formulation. An example is 4E, which means it is an emulsifiable concentrate (E) with 4 pounds of active ingredient per gallon. Emulsifiable concentrates can also be represented by EC.

    Other common types of formulations include:
    F, L, or FL Flowables
    ULV Ultra Low Volume
    D Dusts
    B Bails
    G Granulars
    P or PS Pellets
    W or WP Wettable Powders
    S or SP Soluble Powders
    DF Dry Flowables
    WDG Water Dispersible Granules
    WDL Water Dispersible Liquids


    Other less common formulations include:
    AF Aqueous Flowables
    AS Aqueous Suspensions
    ES Emulsifiable Solutions
    MTF Multiple Temperature Formulation
    OL Oil-soluble Liquids
    SL Slurrys


    Microencapsulation Liquid or dry pesticide particles may be surrounded by a plastic coating to produce a microencapsulated formulation.

    Precautionary Statement
    4. HAZARDS TO HUMANS AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS--These statements warn you of possible poisoning to humans and animals. Special precautions, including necessary protective equipment, appear here. If the product carries serious risk, proper poison treatment is listed.
    5. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS-- Warnings here may include general statements about birds, fish and wildlife or include statements concerning toxicity to honey bees, surface and groundwater contamination, and endangered species. Label information on groundwater contamination warns against applying pesticides in situations which may lead to contamination of groundwater.
    6. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL HAZARDS--Warnings appear here about potential fire, explosion or chemical hazards.
    7. DIRECTIONS FOR USE-- Explanation of correct use of the product. also tells you what pests the product is registered to control, where the product can be used, when it should be used, how much to use and in what form to use it. This section also says whether the product is for general or restricted use.
    Misuse statement -- You are warned here that if you fail to follow label directions exactly, you are violating Federal Law.
    Worker Protection Standard(WPS)-- Labels of agricultural pesticides will require compliance with the Worker Protection Standard (WPS). This part of the label will usually be called "Agricultural Use Requirements." You must comply with ALL the revised WPS requirements if you are affected by WPS.
    8. REENTRY STATEMENT--Some products require that a person without protective clothing not enter the treated area until a certain time has passed. Consult local authorities for special rules that may apply.
    9. CATEGORY OF APPLICATOR--If required for this product, this section will limit use to certain categories of commercial applicators.
    10. STORAGE AND DISPOSAL DIRECTIONS--Pesticide labels will have some basic guidelines for pesticide storage, usually recommending that the be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from feed and foodstuffs. And different types of pesticides should be stored separately; herbicides separate from insecticides as an example. The pesticide storage area should be well marked with warning signs and be locked to prevent unauthorized entry. Improper disposal of excess pesticide, spray mixture, rinsate or the container is a violation of Federal law. if these wastes cannot be disposed of according to label directions, contact the Kentucky Division of Waste management (502) 564- 6716, or the National Pesticide Telecommunication network (800) 858 - 7378 (24 hour) for guidance.
    NOTE: Burning pesticide containers is illegal in Kentucky.
    11. STATEMENT OF USE CLASSIFICATION--The label must show whether the pesticide is for general or restricted use. Use is based on the hazard of poisoning the way the pesticide is used and its effect on the environment. General Use--According to FIFRA, a general use pesticide is one that, when applied according to its directions, will not generally cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment. Restricted Use--Restricted use pesticides have a statement at the top of the label's front panel saying "Restricted use pesticide for retail sale to and application only by certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision." According to FIFRA, restricted use pesticide is one that, when applied according to its directions, may generally cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment, including injury to the applicator.
    12. SIGNAL WORDS--Signal words, standard by law in the industry, tell you how severely toxic a pesticide is. The three signal words used on pesticide labels are DANGER, WARNING, and CAUTION. Pesticides with the signal word DANGER are most toxic or hazardous and their use is normally restricted. They will usually have the word "Poison" and the skull and crossbones on the label.

    Less toxic pesticides may be given the signal word WARNING if there is a specific hazard, such as sever skin or eye injury, or a particular danger to the environment. For these, the word "Poison" or the skull and crossbones is not on the label. Pesticides with the signal word CAUTION are least toxic to people and are generally less hazardous. Every product label must have "Keep Out of the Reach of Children" and carry one of the signal words:


    Signal WordToxicityApproximate Amount Needed to Kill the Average Person
    DANGER Highly Toxic A taste to a teaspoonful of a pesticide in this category could possibly cause death if taken orally
    WARNING Moderately toxic A teaspoonful to a tablespoonful could probably kill an adult
    CAUTION Slightly toxic An ounce to more than a pint would probably be required to cause death in an adult


    13. SYMBOL--The skull-and-crossbones symbol attracts attention to highly toxic materials. The symbol is accompanied by the signal word DANGER and the word POISON.
    14. STATEMENT OF PRACTICAL TREATMENT-- Emergency first aid is spelled out in this section. In addition, you are told that exposure requires medical attention, such as swallowing or inhaling the product or getting it in your eyes or on your skin. In the case of a possible poisoning, it is important to take the pesticide label to the attending physician.
    15. NAME AND ADDRESS OF MANUFACTURER-- The law requires the manufacturer to identify itself by name and address.
    16. REGISTRATION AND ESTABLISHMENT NUMBERS-- The registration number shows that the product is properly registered with the Federal Government (Environmental Protection Agency). The establishment number identifies the factory and appears on the container but may not be on the label.
    17. NET CONTENTS--The net contents tells you the amount in the container.

    The following Cooperative Extension publications give you more information on pesticides.

  • Commercial Vegetable Crop Recommendations (ID-36) (revised every 2 years. Be sure to use the most current version.)
  • Kentucky Commercial free Fruit Spray Guide (ID-92) (revised every year)
  • Kentucky Commercial Small Fruit Spray Guide (ID-94 ) (revised every year)
  • Guidelines for Pesticide Use (ID-98)
  • Insect Management Recommendations for Field Crops and Livestock (revised every year)
  • Chemical Control of Weeds in Kentucky Farm Crops (AGR-6) (revised every year)
  • Herbicide Persistence and Carryover in Kentucky (AGR-139)
  • Herbicides with Potential to Carry Over and Injure Rotational Crops in Kentucky (AGR-140).


    • Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.

    Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, C. Oran Little, Director of Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Lexington, Kentucky State University, Frankfort. Issued 6-90; Revised 6-95, Last Printed 1-96, 3000 copies; 24000 copies to date.