A comprehensive reference detailing the requirements and guidance for the labelling of pesticide products.
This guidance is without prejudice to labelling requirements of other legislation i.e. The Dangerous Preparations Directive (99/45/EC)/CHIP4 Regulations which are being gradually replaced by the EC Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures EC 1272/2008 (the CLP regulation).
Labelling Handbook Sections
The Labelling Handbook (pdf, 125 pages)
Please note that applicants are required to follow the Labelling Handbook and subsequent regulatory changes - links to updates are included under Further Information
- Introduction: The Product Label and The Labelling Handbook
This introduction briefly provides details on The Labelling Handbook, the product label and how the product label is affected by the regulatory legislation. - A: How To Use The Labelling Handbook
Information on how to use The Labelling Handbook. A summary of contents is provided and information on which sections of the handbook should be referred to when drafting a product label. - B: Summary of labelling requirements
A summary of the requirements for the labelling of plant protection products. - C: Professional Product Label: 'Approved Text'
Information on how the 'approved text' on a professional plant protection product label must be presented. This section includes information on the product identity, the statutory area of the label, field of use phrases, safety information, hazard symbols, risk and safety phrases and the 'Directions for Use' section of the label. - D: Amateur Product Label: 'Approved Text'
Information on how the 'approved text' on an amateur plant protection product label must be presented. This section includes information on the product identity, safety instructions, hazard symbols, risk and safety phrases and the 'Instructions for Use' section of the label. - E: Acceptable changes to the 'Approved Text'
Advice on the acceptable changes that can be made to the 'approved text' of a product label. Examples of the acceptable changes that can be made are also detailed. - F: Avoidance of false and misleading statements
Information on what are considered as false and misleading statements on a product label and how to ensure that these phrases are not included on a label. - G: Structure and layout of Product Label on the Container
Advice on how the information that is required for the product label must be attached to, or accompany, the container in which the product is sold and supplied. This section includes information on water soluble bags and the labelling of multi-packs. - H: Use of Artwork
Information on the use of artwork on the product label. - I: Legibility of Text
Advice on the minimum legibility requirements for text on the product label. - J: Company Advisory Information - Professional Product Label
Advice on the format, location and content of company advisory information that may appear on a product label. Examples of acceptable Company Advisory Information are detailed. - K: Safety Data Sheets
Information on the provision of Safety Data Sheets with product labels. It will not be a statutory requirement that labels are reformatted in line with this handbook until 31 October 2004. Approval holders should ensure that stocks labelled under the previous requirements are placed into the supply chain by this date. New draft labels submitted with applications for approval of new products need not follow the new format until this date. However, approval holders may take advantage of the new requirements and begin amending existing labels and drafting potential new labels in the new format as soon as possible.
Amendments of existing approved labels
'Global amendment Notices’ have been issued for all approved professional products (see All Approval Holder Letter 26/2002) which allow approval holders, if they wish, to immediately amend the format of existing approved labels without applications to CRD.
Submission of new labels with applications
Applicants may use the new guidance to produce draft labels for submission with applications for new products or changes to existing products.
If labels continue to be submitted in the 'old' format, they will be assessed by CRD under our existing procedures. The Notice of Approval will include conditions which allow the label to be continue to be printed in the 'old' format but will also enable the approval holder to amend labels to the 'new format' without an application to us. The Notice of Approval will state that the applicant must amend the label to the new format by 31 October 2004 although an application for this change will not be required.
For ongoing applications for which 'old' format labels have already been submitted, a similar approach will be taken.
If applications are submitted with labels in the 'new' format, we will assess them under the new procedures. The Notice of Approval will include a condition that reflects only the new formatting requirements.
Applicants should now use 'The Applicant Guide' to obtain advice on submitting applications. If in any doubt as to the contents, contact CRD.
Contact
Any comments on the structure or contents of the Labelling Handbook, or any suggestions for improvement should be emailed to pesticides@hse.gsi.gov.uk
Further Information
Additional information on labelling issues can be found in
- the following All Approval Holders Letters:
16/2002 - Classification And Labelling: CHIP 3 Regulations And The Dangerous Preparations Directive (99/45/EC).
19/2003 - Update on Pesticide Labelling Issues.
31/2003 - Update on Labelling Issues: CHIP 3 and Amateur Products.
15/2004 - Revision of The Labelling Handbook
04/2005 - Garden Pesticides Guidance
20/2006 - Labelling of Plant Protection Products
21/2006 - Using Non-Toxic Slug Traps When Assessing Slug Activity and the Risk of Damage in Winter Wheat and Oilseed Rape
23/2006 - Revised Labelling Of Plant Protection Products
27/2006 - Mislabelling of Approved Pesticide Products for the Amateur Home Garden Market
12/2007 - Dual labelling (UK and Republic of Ireland guidelines)
18/2009 - Regulatory Update on Labelling Issues: CHIP 4
03/2010 -Changes to Labelling and Other Requirements for Home and Garden Pesticides (2) (note: This Regulatory Update replaced 30/2009)
25/2010 -Changes to Labelling for Certain Home and Garden Pesticides Containing Ferric Phosphate
28/2010-New Procedures for Label Checking
05/2011-Regulatory Update: Clopyralid - label amendments for amateur products
42/2011- Application of the HardSPEC Assumptions from the Regulatory Risk Assessment on Non-Porous Hard Surfaces
30/2012 - Changes to the default label phrase and respiratory protective equipment (RPE) requirements for plant protection products containing micro-organisms
03/2013 - Implementation of the “CLP Regulation”
