[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 40, Volume 23]

[Revised as of July 1, 2006]

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 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



[[Page 63]]



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.