Requiring pesticide labels

Labelling pesticides

Description

Requiring pesticide labels involves mandating clear, accurate labeling on pesticide products to inform users of their contents, safe handling instructions, application methods, and potential hazards. This strategy aims to reduce health and environmental risks by ensuring that consumers, workers, and regulators can identify toxic substances, follow safety precautions, and respond effectively to accidents or misuse. Proper labeling remedies problems of accidental poisoning, environmental contamination, and misuse by promoting informed, responsible pesticide use.

Context

Many farm workers cannot read the warning labels about careful use, because they do not know how to read or because the label is in a foreign language. The farmers may be totally unaware of the dangers of handling these chemicals. Often they do not know that they should avoid reusing pesticide containers for food or water.

Implementation

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.