Each product label is required to bear hazard and precautionary statements for humans and domestic animals (if applicable) as prescribed in this subpart. Hazard statements describe the type of hazard that may occur, while precautionary statements will either direct or inform the user of actions to take to avoid the hazard or mitigate its effects.

(a) Location of statements—(1) Front panel statements. The signal word, child hazard warning, and, in certain cases, the first aid statement are required to appear on the front panel of the label, and also in any supplemental labeling intended to accompany the product in distribution or sale.

(2) Statements elsewhere on label. Hazard and precautionary statements not required on the front panel may appear on other panels of the label, and may be required also in supplemental labeling. These include, but are not limited to, the human hazard and precautionary statements, domestic animal statements if applicable, a Note to Physician, and physical or chemical hazard statements.

(b) Placement and prominence—(1) Front panel statements. All required front panel warning statements shall be grouped together on the label, and shall appear with sufficient prominence relative to other front panel text and graphic material to make them unlikely to be overlooked under customary conditions of purchase and use. The table below shows the minimum type size requirements for the front panel warning statements for various front panel sizes.

(2) Other required statements. All other hazard and precautionary statements must be at least 6 point type.

This section establishes four Toxicity Categories for acute hazards of pesticide products, Category I being the highest toxicity category. Most human hazard, precautionary statements, and human personal protective equipment statements are based upon the Toxicity Category of the pesticide product as sold or distributed. In addition, toxicity categories may be used for regulatory purposes other than labeling, such as classification for restricted use and requirements for child-resistant packaging. In certain cases, statements based upon the Toxicity Category of the product as diluted for use are also permitted. A Toxicity Category is assigned for each of five types of acute exposure, as specified in the table in this paragraph.

(a) Requirement. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(4), each pesticide product must bear on the front panel a signal word, reflecting the highest Toxicity Category (Category I is the highest toxicity category) to which the product is assigned by any of the five routes of exposure in § 156.62. The signal word must also appear together with the heading for the human precautionary statement section of the labeling (see § 156.70).

(1) Toxicity Category I. Any pesticide product meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category I for any route of exposure must bear on the front panel the signal word “DANGER.” In addition, if the product is assigned to Toxicity Category I on the basis of its oral, inhalation or dermal toxicity (as distinct from skin and eye irritation), the word “Poison” must appear in red on a background of distinctly contrasting color, and the skull and crossbones symbol must appear in immediate proximity to the word “Poison.”

(2) Toxicity Category II. Any pesticide product meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category II as the highest category by any route of exposure must bear on the front panel the signal word “WARNING.”

(3) Toxicity Category III. Any pesticide product meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category III as the highest category by any route of exposure must bear on the front panel the signal word “CAUTION.”

(4) Toxicity Category IV. A pesticide product meeting the criteria of Toxicity Category IV by all routes of exposure is not required to bear a signal word. If a signal word is used, it must be “CAUTION.”

(b) Use of signal words. In no case may a product:

(1) Bear a signal word reflecting a higher Toxicity Category than indicated by the route of exposure of highest toxicity, unless the Agency determines that such labeling is necessary to prevent unreasonable adverse effects on man or the environment;

(2) Bear a signal word reflecting a lesser Toxicity Category associated with a diluted product. Although precautionary statements for use dilutions may be included on label, the signal word must reflect the toxicity of the product as distributed or sold; or

(3) Bear different signal words on different parts of the label.

(a) Each pesticide product must bear on the front panel of the label the statement “Keep Out of Reach of Children.” That statement, or any alternative statement approved by EPA, must appear on a separate line in close proximity to the signal word, if required. The statement is required on Toxicity Category IV products that do not otherwise require a signal word.

(b) In its discretion, EPA may waive the requirement, or require or permit an alternative child hazard warning, if:

(1) The applicant can demonstrate that the likelihood of exposure of children to the pesticide during distribution, marketing, storage or use is remote (for example, an industrial use product); or

(2) The pesticide is approved for use on children (for example, an insect repellent).

(c) EPA may approve an alternative child hazard warning that more appropriately reflects the nature of the pesticide product to which children may be exposed (for example, an impregnated pet collar). In this case, EPA may also approve placement on other than the front panel.

(a) Product as sold and distributed. Each product must bear a first aid statement if the product has systemic effects in Category I, II, or III, or skin or eye irritation effects in Category I or II.

(b) Product as diluted for use. If the product labeling bears directions for dilution with water prior to use, the label may also include a statement describing how the first aid measures may be modified for the diluted product. Such a statement must reflect the Toxicity Category(ies) of the diluted product, based upon data for the route of exposure (or calculations if appropriate). If the labeling provides for a range of use dilutions, only that use dilution representing the highest concentration allowed by labeling may be used as the basis for a statement pertaining to the diluted product. The statement for a diluted product may not substitute for the statement for the concentrate, but augments the information provided for the concentrate.

(c) Heading. The heading of the statement may be “First Aid” or “Statement of Practical Treatment.”

(d) Location of first aid statement. The first aid statement must appear on the front panel of the label of all products assigned to Toxicity Category I by any route of exposure. Upon review, the Agency may permit reasonable variations in the placement of the first aid statement if a reference such as “See first aid statement on back panel” appears on the front panel. The first aid statement for products assigned to Toxicity Categories II or III may appear on any panel of the label.

(a) Requirement. Human hazard and precautionary statements as required must appear together on the label or labeling under the general heading “Precautionary Statements” and under appropriate subheadings similar to “Humans and Domestic Animals,” “Environmental Hazards” (see subpart E of this part) and “Physical or Chemical Hazards.” The phrase “and Domestic Animals” may be omitted from the heading if domestic animals will not be exposed to the product.

(b) Content of statements. When data or other information show that an acute hazard may exist to humans or domestic animals, the label must bear precautionary statements describing the particular hazard, the route(s) of exposure and the precautions to be taken to avoid accident, injury or toxic effect or to mitigate the effect. The precautionary paragraph must be immediately preceded by the appropriate signal word.

(c) Typical precautionary statements. The table below presents typical hazard and precautionary statements. Specific statements pertaining to the hazards of the product and its uses must be approved by the Agency. With Agency approval, statements may be augmented to reflect the hazards and precautions associated with the product as diluted for use. Refer to § 156.68(b) for requirements for use dilution statements.

(a) Requirement. Warning statements on the flammability or explosive characteristics of the pesticide product are required if a product meets the criteria in this section. Warning statements pertaining to other physical/chemical hazards (e.g., oxidizing potential, conductivity, chemical reactions leading to production of toxic substances) may be required on a case-by-case basis.

(b) Pressurized products. The table below sets out the required flammability label statements for pressurized products.

(c) Non-pressurized products. The table below sets out the required flammability label statements for non-pressurized products.

(d) Total release fogger products. (1) A total release fogger is defined as a pesticide product in a pressurized container designed to automatically release the total contents in one operation, for the purpose of creating a permeating fog within a confined space to deliver the pesticide throughout the space.

(2) If a pesticide product is a total release fogger containing a propellant with a flash point at or below 20 °F, then the following special instructions must be added to the “Physical and Chemical Hazards” warning statement, in addition to any flammability statement required by paragraph (b) of this section:

This product contains a highly flammable ingredient. It may cause a fire or explosion if not used properly. Follow the Directions for Use on this label very carefully.

(3) A graphic symbol depicting fire, such as illustrated in this paragraph, or an equivalent symbol, must be displayed along with the required language adjoining the “Physical and Chemical Hazards” warning statement. The graphic symbol must be no smaller than twice the size of the first character of the human hazard signal word.

Highly Flammable Ingredient Ingrediente Altamente Inflamable