Pesticides are essential for protecting crops, but handling them safely starts with understanding the label. Every Saturday, Food For Mzansi shares practical tips for farmers and farm workers. This week, we’re breaking down how to read a pesticide label, why it matters, and what it can tell you about safe and effective use.
Under the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act of 1947, pesticide labels are legal documents. They provide vital information about the product’s hazards, usage, and restrictions.
Labels have changed over the years, moving from the old WHO colour bands to the GHS (Globally Harmonised System) format. This system uses pictograms, signal words, hazard statements, and precautionary statements to communicate risks clearly.
GHS pictograms are black symbols on a white background inside red diamonds. They give you an immediate visual alert of the pesticide’s hazards. Signal words, like “Danger” or “Warning”, indicate the severity of the hazard, while hazard statements describe the type and seriousness of the risk.
Precautionary statements explain how to handle the product safely, including prevention, storage, response to accidents, and disposal. Even though PPE pictograms are no longer used, the label still tells you what protection is needed through these precautionary statements.
Resistance management and group codes
According to CropLife South Africa, labels also include a group code, which shows the mode of action of the product’s active ingredient. This is critical for managing pesticide resistance in pests such as tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) or the fall armyworm.
Follow the label’s directions carefully: the number of applications per season, the rotation of different mode-of-action groups, and alternative products recommended. If the label doesn’t offer alternatives, consult your crop advisor or pest management consultant to build a proper spray program.
Following these steps helps prevent resistance, keeps pesticides effective longer, and protects your crop yield.
Restricted remedies and expiry dates
Some products are classified as restricted agricultural remedies and can only be used by a certified pest control operator (PCO). If a restricted remedy is applied on your farm, a PCO must be present to oversee the team applying it. This ensures that high-hazard chemicals are handled safely and legally.
Finally, check the date of manufacture (DOM) on your pesticide. While labels may not show an explicit expiry date, most pesticides are effective for two years from the DOM. Using products past their shelf life can reduce effectiveness and risk crop residues above legal limits.
Reading and understanding pesticide labels isn’t optional. It’s a key part of safe, responsible farming. Labels protect your crops, your team, and the environment. Taking the time to read, follow, and implement label instructions ensures that pesticides do their job without causing harm.
- Next Saturday, we’ll share tips on the proper way to wear PPE when working with pesticides. Stay tuned for more practical advice for safer, smarter farming.
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