Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
7.
Name and Address of Manufacturer
The law requires that the name and address of the manufacturer or distribu-
tor of the product be put on a label. This is to inform the purchaser or end-
user of the product as to the manufacturer or seller of the product in case he or
she wish to contact them with specific questions.
8.
EPA Registration Number and Establishment Number
A registration number appears on every pesticide label. It shows that the
product has been registered with the federal government. It is the responsibil-
ity of the EPA to assign a registration number to every product that it regis-
ters. This number usually consists of two sets of numbers; for example, EPA
Reg. No. 55947-136. The first set, 55947, identifies the manufacturer and the
second set, 136, identifies the product.
The establishment number is a special number assigned to the plant that
manufactured the pesticide for the company. Some companies manufacture
pesticides in more than one manufacturing plant, and the establishment
number identifies the place of manufacture. In case something goes wrong,
the facility that made the product can be traced.
9.
Health Hazards (Signal Words and Symbols)
These precautionary statements appear on the label's front panel. They tell
you the relative toxicity of the product and how you should respond if you or
a coworker is exposed to the product.
Usually, the label will not give specific information on the pesticide's
toxicity to humans. It must, however, indicate the pesticide's relative
toxicity. It does so by using
signal words
that are established by law that
identify the toxicity category
to which the product is assigned. Signal words
must appear in large letters on the label's front panel.
The signal word
DANGER
must appear on labels of all highly toxic
products; this word alone is sufficient for products for which the principal
concerns are eye and/or skin hazards. If a product is highly toxic due to oral,
dermal, or inhalation exposure, the label must also bear the word POISON and
the skull-and-crossbones symbol. A taste to a teaspoonful taken by mouth
could kill an average-sized adult. Any product that is highly toxic orally,
dermally, or through inhalation will be labeled DANGER-POISON.
The word
WARNING
signals you that the product is moderately toxic.
A teaspoonful to a tablespoonful by mouth could kill the average-sized adult.
Any product that is moderately toxic orally, dermally, or through inhalation or
that causes moderate eye and skin irritation will be so labeled.
