[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 21]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR156.64]

[Page 62-63]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 156--LABELING REQUIREMENTS FOR PESTICIDES AND DEVICES--Table of Contents
 
          Subpart D--Human Hazard and Precautionary Statements
 
Sec. 156.64  Signal word.

    (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 Sec. 156.62. The signal word must also appear together with 
the heading for the human precautionary statement section of the 
labeling (see Sec. 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

[[Page 63]]

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.