Toxicity label

Toxicity labels[1] viz; red label, yellow label, blue label and green label are mandatory labels employed on pesticide containers in India identifying the level of toxicity (that is, the toxicity class) of the contained pesticide.[1][2][3] The schemes follows from the Insecticides Act of 1968[1] and the Insecticides Rules of 1971.

"Red label" and "Yellow label" redirect here. For red label tea, see English breakfast tea.
Toxicity labels
Red, yellow, blue and green labels.
Effective regionIndia
Effective since1971
Product categoryPesticides
Legal statusMandatory
Mandatory since1971

The labeling follows a general scheme as laid down in the Insecticides Rules, 1971, and contains information such as brand name, name of manufacturer, name of the antidote in case of accidental consumption etc. A major aspect of the label is a color mark which represents the toxicity of the material by a color code. Thus the labelling scheme proposes four different colour labels: viz red, yellow, blue, and green.[4]

Label Name Level of toxicity Oral lethal dose (mg/kg) Listed chemicals
Red label Extremely toxic 1–50 Monocrotophos, zinc phosphide, ethyl mercury acetate, and others.
Yellow label Highly toxic 51–500 Endosulfan, carbaryl,[2] quinalphos,[2] and others.
Blue label Moderately toxic 501–5000 Malathion, thiram, glyphosate,[2] and others.
Green label Slightly toxic > 5000 Mancozeb, oxyfluorfen, mosquito repellant oils and liquids, and most other household insecticides.

The toxicity classification applies only to pesticides which are allowed to be sold in India. Some of the classified pesticides may be banned in somes states of India, by decision of the state governments. Some of the red-label and yellow-label pesticides were banned in the state of Kerala following the Endosulfan protests of 2011.[2]

See also

References
  1. The Tribune. 'Knowing labels can save lives' by Divender Gupta.
  2. ExpressBuzz. 'List of substitutes issued for banned pesticides'.
  3. The Hindu. 'Chemicals safe, says Rubber Board'.
  4. Central Insecticides Board. Insecticides Rules, 1971.
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