Chapter 3
The Pesticide Label
In This
Chapter
After learning the information in this chapter, you will be able to:
1. Identify a pesticide label and why you need to read it.
2. List the key information found on each part of a label.
3. Recognize the hazard symbols and signal words on a label and
judge the risks of using the product.
Keywords
mode of action, hazard symbols, signal words, pre-harvest intervals,
restricted entry interval, buffer zones
A pesticide label gives important information. It tells you:
 the active ingredient
 what the hazards are when you use the product
 how dangerous the pesticide is
 how to use it safely
 the rates at which the product should be used
 what to do in case of an accident.
The label shows the pesticide is registered by the Pest Management
Regulatory Agency, Health Canada. It also gives the name and
address of the company that makes the pesticide, or a Canadian
contact, if you need more information about it.
If all of the required information can't fit on the label, the company
may include a booklet or pamphlet with the pesticide, or print
information on stickers or tags that are attached to the container.
The label must be kept on the container and in good condition. If it
becomes illegible, get a new one from the supplier. Make sure you
have all the information you need before you use any pesticide.
Keep a copy of the label for each pesticide product you use.
A pesticide label is a legal document. It tells how the product
should be used. It is against the law to use the product in any other
way, or to use it in an unsafe way. It is also against the law for
anyone to tell you that a pesticide can be used for anything that is
not on the label.
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
33
Principal Display Panel
GROUP
1
HERBICIDE
AGRICULTURAL
10 L
Pest Manager 500 EC
Emulsifiable Concentrate Herbicide
READ THE LABEL BEFORE USING
WARNING
POISON
Guarantee: Monolochlor 500 g/L
Registration No. xxxxx Pest Control Products Act
Pest Management Company
Ridgetown ON N0P 2C0
34
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
How to Read
the Label
There are two main parts to a pesticide label. The front panel is
called the principal display panel. The back or side panel is called
the secondary display panel. This chapter will tell you what
information you can find on each panel. Look at the sample label as
each part of the label is described.
The
Principal
Display Panel
Shows:
Product name. The product name includes three things:
 the product name which is approved by the PMRA and, may
include a trade or brand name. Pest Manager 500 E.C.is the
name of this product.
 the physical form of the pesticide. This product is a liquid –
an Emulsifiable Concentrate (E.C.).
 description of its purpose. This product is an herbicide used
to control weeds.
Classification or Risk. This tells you the federal class to which a
product has been assigned, and indicates who can use the product.
There are four classifications:
 Domestic. These products are intended for use in and around
the home. They are sold in small packages and usually have a
low toxicity.
 Commercial (may also be called Agricultural, Institutional
or Industrial). These products are designed for use in
commercial operations in agriculture, forestry or industry.
They must be handled carefully to prevent injuries.
 Restricted. The safety of these products for plants, animals
or the environment is a concern. They have special detailed
labels to show how to handle them safely.
 Manufacturing. These products are used to manufacture or
formulate end-use products. They are not available to the
end-user for use as a pest management tool.
Net Contents. This tells you how much of the product is in the
package. The amount is shown in metric units. This label shows
there are 10 L (10 litres) in this package.
Mode of Action Grouping and Identification Symbol. Pesticides
are divided into Groups according to the way they work to control
the pest (Mode of Action). You can use this Group number to plan
your pesticide rotation and to help manage pest resistance.
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
35
Principal Display Panel
GROUP
AGRICULTURAL
1
HERBICIDE
10 L
Pest Manager 500 EC
Emulsifiable Concentrate Herbicide
READ THE LABEL BEFORE USING
WARNING
POISON
Guarantee: Monolochlor 500 g/L
Registration No. xxxxx Pest Control Products Act
Pest Management Company
Ridgetown ON N0P 2C0
36
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
READ THE LABEL BEFORE USING. This warning must be on
the front panel. It is required by the Regulations of the Pest Control
Products Act (PCPA), a federal government law, found online at
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/P-9.01/
Precautionary symbols and words. The Pest Control Products
Regulations contain symbols and words to show the hazards of using
and handling pesticides. Allergen statements are typically found in
this area of the primary panel. All of these symbols and words, and
what they mean, are described later in this Chapter.
Guarantee. The guarantee tells you the common name of the
chemical that is the active ingredient in the product. The active
ingredient is the part of the pesticide product that controls the pest.
There may be more than one active ingredient in the pesticide
product, in which case more than one common name will appear on
the label.
The guarantee also shows the concentration, or how much of the
chemical is in the product. The concentration may be measured in
two ways:
a) By weight per unit volume. This label shows that the active
ingredient is the chemical monolochlor. There are 500 grams
of the chemical in each litre of this pesticide product
(500 g/L).
b) As a percentage by weight. Another label could show the
concentration of the chemical as a percentage. For example, a
guarantee of 40% means that in each 100 parts of a pesticide,
40 parts are active ingredient.
Registration No. xxxxx Pest Control Products Act. This number
shows that the product has been registered by PMRA, Health
Canada. This registration number identifies the product to the
government and the manufacturer.
Name and address. The name and address of the company or
organization that registered the product (known as the registrant)
must be on the label or in the case of foreign companies, the address
of an organization acting as its Canadian agent. The registrant or
agent can provide more information about the product to anyone
who asks.
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
37
Directions for Use
Soybeans: To control broadleaf weeds and grasses, apply 1.75 to 2.5
L/ha when soybeans are in the 2 to 4 trifoliate stage. Apply in 45 to
225 L of water per hectare. Do not apply when temperatures are above
25o C. Do not apply within 30 days of harvest. Do not feed treated
foliage to animals.
Precautions
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND ANIMALS. Harmful if
swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Avoid breathing vapour
or spray mist. Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing. Wash
thoroughly after handling and before eating, drinking or smoking. Do not
allow spray to contact susceptible plants. Coarse sprays are less likely to
drift. Avoid contamination of food for human consumption or livestock
feed. Do not contaminate water supplies of any bodies of water. Avoid
freezing. If subjected to freezing temperatures, warm to at least 5oC and
mix thoroughly before using.
Disposal
Recyclable Container: Do not reuse this container for any purpose. This
is a recyclable container and is to be disposed of at a container collections
site. Contact your local distributor/dealer or municipality for the location
of the nearest collection site. Triple rinse the empty container. Make the
empty, rinsed container unsuitable for further use.
First Aid
If poisoning is suspected, immediately contact a doctor or poison control
centre. Take the container, label or product name and Pest Control
Product Registration number with you.
If swallowed, call a poison control centre or doctor immediately. Do not
induce vomiting unless told to do so by a poison control centre of doctor.
If in eyes, hold eye open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15-20
minutes. Call a poison control centre or doctor immediately.
If on skin, take off contaminated clothing and rinse skin immediately
with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. Call a poison control centre or
doctor immediately.
Toxicological Information
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pin-point pupils, convulsions and
coma. This product may cause cholinesterase inhibition. Atropine is
antidotal. Give 2 to 4 mg of atropine sulphate intramuscularly or
intravenously immediately and every hour as required until pupils dilate.
Notice to User
This pest control product is to be used only in accordance with the
directions on the label. It is an offence under the Pest Control Products
Act to use this product in a way that is inconsistent with the directions on
the label. The user assumes that risk to person or property that arises
from any such use of this product.
38
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
Secondary
Display
Panel
Directions for Use. The Directions for Use is a set of instructions
detailing the safe use of the product. They include but are not limited
to:
 what the target pest is (weed, insect, disease)
 what crops (or livestock) it can be used on
 how much to use and how to mix it
 how to apply the product
 how to protect the crop
 when you should not use it
 how to manage pest resistance
 when to harvest
 restricted entry interval
 any other restrictions.
Precautions. This section tells you what hazards there are in using
and handling the product, including what protective clothing and
personal protective equipment to wear. It tells how to use the
pesticide safely and how to protect the environment, yourself and
others from danger. There may be a separate Environmental Hazard
section. You will find the child hazard warning “KEEP OUT OF
REACH OF CHILDREN” here for Restricted and Commercial class
products. This warning must be on the principal display panel of
Domestic class products.
Disposal. This section tells you how to dispose of the container
safely once the product has been used.
First Aid. This section tells you what to do if someone is poisoned
or injured by the pesticide and you are the first person to help. Every
label states: “Take container, label or product name and Pest Control
Product Registration Number with you when seeking medical
attention”.
Toxicological Information. This section gives more information on
the signs and symptoms of poisoning. It also tells the doctor what
antidote to use and any ingredients that may influence the treatment.
It is important to give this information to the doctor in case of an
accident.
Notice to User. This section tells the person using the product to
follow the directions on the label. Make sure that you follow the
directions on the label. It is against the law to use a pesticide in an
unsafe way. The buyer is responsible for the safe use of the
pesticide.
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
39
Hazard
Symbols and
Words
What Are the
Hazards?
Learn these symbols and words –
they could save your life.
Four important symbols and words show the potential hazards of
pesticides.
Hazard Symbol
Signal Word
Poison
Corrosive
Flammable
Explosive
Border Shapes
and Signal
Words
How Hazardous
Are They?
40
The hazard symbol will always appear inside one of the border
shapes shown below. These shapes and their associated signal words
tell you the degree of hazard of the pesticide. The greater the
number of sides to the shape, the more hazardous the product.
Border Shape
Triangular
shape means
slight hazard
(3 sides)
Diamond
shape means
moderate hazard
(4 sides)
Octagonal
shape means
high hazard
(8 sides)
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
Signal Word
Caution
Warning
Danger
Interpretation of Symbol Combinations
Poison Hazard:
Acute oral LD50, or
Acute dermal LD50, or
Acute inhalation LC50, or
Respirator (for LC50)
Flammability Hazard:
Liquid Products
- Flash Point
Pressurized Products
- Flame Projection
DANGER
POISON
WARNING
POISON
CAUTION
POISON
Highly acutely toxic
Moderately acutely toxic
Slightly acutely toxic
<500 mg/kg
<500 mg/kg
<0.05 mg/L air
yes
500 – 1 000 mg/kg
500 – 1 000 mg/kg
0.05 - 0.5 mg/L air
yes
1 000 – 2 000 mg/kg
1 000 – 2 000 mg/kg
0.5 - 2.0 mg/L air
-
DANGER
EXTREMELY
FLAMMABLE
WARNING
FLAMMABLE
CAUTION
FLAMMABLE
<-6°C (20°F)
-6 ° to 10°C (20 ° to 50°F)
10° to 27°C (50° to 80°F)
45 cm (18") or more
15 to 45 cm (6 to 18")
<15 cm (6")
Explosive Hazard:
CAUTION
EXPLOSIVE
All Domestic Aerosols,
Pressurized
Corrosive Hazard:
acid or alkali materials
organic acids
available chlorine
pH
DANGER
CORROSIVE
10% or more
20% or more
—
—
WARNING
CORROSIVE
5 to 10%
5 to 20%
10% or more as liquid
≤0.5 or ≥13.5
CAUTION
CORROSIVE
1 to 5%
1 to 5%
over 1% as solids
0.5 to 2.5 or 11.5 to 13.5
CAUTION
IRRITANT
available chlorine
>4% and <10% as liquid
CAUTION
IRRITANT
available chlorine
No Symbols or
Signal Words
>1% and <4% as liquid
If a pesticide label does NOT have any Hazard Symbols or Signal
Words, the product’s hazards are such that the label does not require
them. However, precautions are still necessary and you should
handle the pesticide with care.
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
41
When more than one hazard symbol is required on the label, all of
the hazard symbols and hazard identifying words must appear on the
label. However, only the most severe signal word is required. This
warning will be for the most dangerous hazard. The example below
shows that fire is the most dangerous hazard.
Multiple
Symbols
DANGER
Example:
POISON
FLAMMABLE
EXPLOSIVE
Special
Warnings for
Eye Hazards
Some products can be dangerous to your eyes. The following words
may appear on the label to describe the hazard:
DANGER CORROSIVE TO EYES
DANGER EYE IRRITANT
WARNING EYE IRRITANT
CAUTION EYE IRRITANT
Special
Warnings for
Skin Hazards
Some products can be dangerous to your skin and are skin
sensitizers. Skin sensitizers cause increasingly severe responses after
prolonged or repeated exposure to the product. The following words
may appear on the label to describe the hazard:
DANGER SKIN IRRITANT
WARNING SKIN IRRITANT
CAUTION SKIN IRRITANT
POTENTIAL SKIN SENSITIZER
Allergens
Some pesticides contain allergens. Some common allergens, such as
milk, eggs, nuts and shellfish, are commonly found in products. If a
pesticide contains an allergen that causes anaphylactic-type
reactions, the label will state “Warning, contains the allergen (name
of allergen.)". This will be on the principal display panel, near the
guarantee. Note: Labels must list all potential allergens.
Preservatives
Some pesticides contain preservatives. These ingredients do not add
any pesticide activity to the product, but are there to protect it from
being degraded or denatured by pests. For example, insecticides
could be added to rodenticide baits to prevent feeding by insects, or
antimicrobial ingredients could be added to products to prevent
mould growth in the container. If a pesticide product contains a
preservative, the label will state "Contains (name of preservative) at
(percent weight/weight) % as a preservative." This statement is
situated on the principal display panel, near the product guarantee.
42
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
Other Label
Information
RESTRICTED
Products
Look for special directions on RESTRICTED products or products
classified as COMMERCIAL with a RESTRICTED use. If a
product has been classified as RESTRICTED, the label must have a
section called NATURE OF RESTRICTION at the top of the
secondary display panel, enclosed in a box, before the directions for
use. This section tells you if there are special conditions for using,
storing, displaying or distributing this pesticide. Example:
NATURE OF RESTRICTION: This product is to be used only in
the manner authorized. Contact local pesticide regulatory
authorities about use permits which may be required. This product
is to be stored and displayed apart from food and feed.
Pre-harvest
Intervals
(Days to Harvest)
Pre-harvest Intervals are based on the results from the food residue
studies and the setting of the maximum residue limits (MRLs) by
Health Canada. Pesticide labels may state:
 Pre-harvest Interval
The amount of time that must pass between the last pesticide
application and the harvesting of the plants or the grazing or
cutting for livestock feed. Failure to wait this period of time may
result in residues in excess of the MRL for the crop.
 Pre-grazing Interval
The amount of time that must pass between the pesticide
application and the grazing of animals on that crop. Failure to
wait this period of time may result in poisoning of the animal or
contaminated milk or meat.
 Pre-slaughter Interval
The amount of time that must pass between treatment of the
animal with pesticide and the slaughter of that animal. Failure to
wait this period of time may result in contaminated meat that is
illegal to market for human consumption.
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
43
Restricted
Entry Interval
(Re-entry Period)
Restricted Entry Interval (REI) is the period of time after a
pesticide has been applied that agricultural workers or anyone else
must not do hand labour tasks in treated areas. The REI allows the
pesticide residues and vapours to dissipate to safe levels for work to
be done.
Hand labour tasks involve substantial worker contact with
treated surfaces such as plants, plant parts or soil. Examples of
these activities include harvesting, detasseling, thinning, weeding,
scouting, planting, mowing, roguing, and packing produce into
containers in the field or greenhouse. You can only do these tasks
after the Restricted Entry Interval has passed.
An REI can range from 0 hours to several days. A pesticide label
may state different REIs that are specific to a crop and post
application task (e.g. thinning, scouting, harvesting). If the REI is
not stated on a label, use a 12 hour REI.
Here are examples of REIs stated on pesticide labels:
Pesticide
Restricted Entry Interval
Matador:
24 hours (all crops)
Scala SC:
12 hours except 24 hours for hand-thinning on
apples and for hand labour (training, tying, leaf
pulling) on grapes
Switch
62.5 WG:
12 hours except 10 days for hand harvest and
hand pruning on Saskatoon berries
Early Re-entry
Certified Farmers may need to re-enter a treated area to do shortterm tasks before the end of an REI. In these cases, the Certified
Farmer may re-enter 4 hours after the application wearing a NIOSHapproved respirator and any other protective clothing and the
personal protective equipment stated on the label for mixing and
loading. This person must not be in the treated area during the REI
for more than a total of 1 hour in any 24 hour period.
Plan pesticide applications around work tasks so that no one
needs to re-enter treated areas before the Restricted Entry
Interval has passed.
44
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
Below is an example of re-entry for a pesticide with a 24 hour REI.
0 to 4
hours
•Do Not Enter
•The end of the
application is the
start of the 24 hour
Restricted Entry
Interval.
•No one may enter
the treated area.
4 to 12
hours
12 to 24
hours
24 +
hours
•Early Re-Entry •Early Re-Entry •Enter
by Certified
•End of REI on a label
by Workers
with a re-entry from
Farmers
•Must not do hand
•Must not do hand
labour tasks.
•Must only be in the
area for <1 hr in 24
hours.
•Wear the PC & PPE
stated on the label
for mixing PLUS wear
a NIOSH-approved
respirator.
24 hours to several
labour tasks.
days.
•Must not contact any
•Anyone may enter.
surfaces that may
have residues.
•Wear PC & PPE items
if stated on the label
for early re-entry.
Tell Farm Workers and Others of the REIs
Notify your farm manager, farmer workers, scouts and others of the
Restricted Entry Intervals. Everyone needs to know. One way to
notify is to post signs, such as the example shown, at any main access
points into the treated area. In addition to posting signs, keep spray
records and REIs in a main location where they can be readily seen
and read by farm workers or anyone else on the farm.
Crop Rotation
Statements
Some product labels have crop rotation statements. These statements
tell what crops can be planted after the treated crop has been
harvested. If the pesticide product is likely to remain in the soil, the
label will state that the user should conduct a bioassay (plant crops
into treated soil to test for injury) before planting crops other than
those named on the label.
Total Number
of Applications
Some product labels will state the total number of applications that
can be made during a season. These limits are intended to protect the
users from food residues, crop damage, soil residues or pests
developing resistance. The total number of applications will vary
with the product.
Buffer Zones
Buffer Zones are areas that are left untreated to protect sensitive
areas. The buffer zone is the distance between the point of direct
application of the pesticide and the closest downwind edge of an
area sensitive to the pesticide. Sensitive terrestrial habitats include
grasslands, forested areas, shelter belts, woodlots, hedgerows,
pastures, rangelands and shrublands. Sensitive freshwater habitats
include lakes, rivers, sloughs, ponds, creeks, marshes, streams,
reservoirs, and wetlands.
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
45
The size of the buffer zone will vary with each pesticide, and is based
on:
 the characteristics of the sensitive area
 the rate of application
 how the pesticide is applied, and
 the toxicity of the pesticide’s active ingredient to non-target
organisms.
When you use a tank mixture, use the largest (most restrictive) buffer
zone of the pesticides you mixed in the spray tank.
Record the size of the buffer zone you used. Sketch a map of the field
to show wind direction and the location and type of sensitive areas in
and around the application site.
You can use the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s Buffer
Zone Calculator to reduce buffer zones for all airblast applications,
and for field and aerial applications when the label states DO NOT
apply with spray droplets smaller than the American Society of
Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) fine/medium/coarse classification.
The Buffer Zone Calculator is on the PMRA’s website.
Supplemental
Label
The Supplemental Label gives directions for an emergency use or for
new uses of a previously registered product until the next printing of
the label. You must follow all the information on both the
Supplemental Label and the registered product label when you use
the product.
You may get the Supplemental Label from the:




46
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
grower association who sponsored the registration
pesticide vendor
pesticide manufacturer, or
Pest Management Information Service of PMRA.
Always Read
the Label
First!
Each pesticide is different, and each label is different. Read the label
carefully to get all the information.
Before you buy a pesticide




Is this the right pesticide for your crop?
What is the formulation? How do you mix it?
How much do you need?
How should you apply it?
Before you use a pesticide
 Are there restrictions on using this pesticide?
 When should it be used? Are there times when you should not
use it?
 What are the hazards?
 What protective clothing and personal protective equipment
do you need?
 What first aid is needed if there is an accident?
Before you store a pesticide or dispose of it
 What should you do with left-over pesticide?
 Where should you store it? Where should you not store it?
 How can you dispose of the container safely?
Pesticide Labels Online
Go to “Pesticide Label Search – Health Canada”.
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
47
Practice Your Understanding
1.
The pesticide label is a legal document. It tells how the product should be used. It is
against the law to use the product in any way that is not shown on the label.
TRUE
2.
FALSE
What are the four federal classifications of pesticides?
1.
2.
3.
4.
3.
What part of the label tells you the name of the active ingredient and its concentration in
the product?
a) product name
b) net contents
c) guarantee
4.
Which section of the label provides additional information not given in the First Aid
section? It may include the signs of poisoning, the antidotes, and any ingredients in the
product that may affect the treatment of poisoning.
a) Precautions
b) Notice to User
c) Toxicological Information
48
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
5.
What hazard identifying and signal words would appear with each symbol below?
B.
A.
6.
C.
D.
E.
It is extremely important to read the pesticide label carefully. When should you read the
label?
1.
2.
3.
7.
What word or words would be required on a label that included all of the symbols below?
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
49
Label Quiz
Use the Matador 120 EC Insecticide label at the end of this quiz to answer the next 17
questions. When you find the answer on the label, circle it. Where on the label did you find the
answer? Write down the page number or the topic heading beside your answer.
The answers to questions 1 – 8 are found in the principal display panel of the label.
1. What is the brand or trade name of this pesticide?
2. What is the formulation? (Is it a dust, suspension, or some other type of formulation?)
3. What does this pesticide control? Check one.
weeds__________
insects__________
fungi__________
4. What is the concentration of the active ingredient, lambda-cyhalorthrin, in the pesticide?
5. What is the name of the company that makes this pesticide?
6. What is the Pest Control Products Act registration number?
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Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
Label Quiz - Continued
7. Look at the symbol on the first page of the label – the Principal Display Panel.
What is the hazard of this product to the user? Check one of the following.
Poison______
Corrosive_______
Flammable ______
Explosive_______
What is the degree of this hazard to the user? Check one of the following.
High__________
Medium__________
Low__________
Based on this hazard symbol, estimate the range of the Acute Oral LD50 in mg/kg
(hint: refer to the Interpretation of Symbol Combinations chart on p.41):
____________________________________________________________
8. What is the Mode of Action Group number?
The answers to questions 9 - 17 are found in the secondary display panel of the label.
9. What should you do if you get this pesticide on your skin?
10. What are the symptoms that could occur if the skin on your face is exposed to Matador
120 EC Insecticide?
11. What protective clothing and personal protective equipment must you wear when you
mix and load Matador 120 EC Insecticide in a ground boom sprayer?
Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label
51
Label Quiz - Continued
12. After you apply this pesticide, how long must farm workers keep out of the treated area?
13. Above what temperature should you store Matador 120 EC insecticide?
14. Where should you dispose of the empty container?
15. When you apply Matador 120 EC with a field sprayer, you should use nozzles with a
spray droplet size classification of:
16. When you apply Matador 120 EC with a field sprayer, how far away must you be from
freshwater habitats?
17. After you apply Matador 120 EC to sweet corn, how many days must you wait before you
can harvest the sweet corn?
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Chapter 3 – The Pesticide Label