Reading the product labels, identifying hazard by colour and signal word may save lives.  The Insecticides Rules, 1971 of India laid down the rules for warning labels for products containing substances which are toxic to mammals (humans).

The label is a square set at a 45 Deg angle of which upper half is always white which may contain the signal word and the colour of lower half signifies the toxicity range.

Section 19 of The Insecticides Rules, 1971

19. Manner of labelling.—

(1) The following particulars shall be either printed or written in indelible ink on the label of the innermost container of any insecticide and on the outmost covering in which the container is packed:—

(i) Name of the manufacturer (if the manufacturer is not the person in whose name the insecticide is registered under the Act, the relationship between the person in whose name the insecticide has been registered and the person who manufacturers, packs or distributes or sells shall be stated).

(ii) Name of the insecticide. (Brand name or trade mark under which the insecticide is sold).

(iii) Registration number of the insecticide.

(iv) Kind and name of active and other ingredients and percentage of each (common name accepted by the International Standards Organisation or the Indian Standards Institution of each of the ingredients shall be given and if no common name exists, the correct chemical name which conforms most closely with the generally accepted rules of chemical nomenclature shall be given.)

(v) Net content of volume. (The net content shall be exclusive of wrapper or other material. The correct statement of the net content to terms of weight, measure, number of units of activity, as the case may be, shall be given. The weight and volume shall be expressed in the metric system).

(vi) Batch number.

(vii) Expiry date, i.e. upto the date insecticide shall retain its efficiency and safety.

(viii) Antidote statement.

(2) The label shall be so affixed to the container that it cannot be ordinarily removed.

(3) The label shall contain in a prominent place and occupying not less than one sixteenth of the total area of the face of the label, a square, set at an angle of 45 deg (diamond shape). The dimension of the said square shall depend on the size of the package on which the label is to be affixed. The said square shall be divided into two equal triangles, the upper portion shall contain the symbol and signal word specified in sub-rule (4) and the lower portion shall contain the colour specified in sub-rule (5).

(4) The upper portion of the square, referred to in sub-rule (93) shall contain the following symbols and warning statements:—

(i) insecticides belonging to Category I (extremely toxic) shall contain the symbol of a skull and cross-bones and the word “POISON” printed in red; the following warning statements shall also appear on the label at appropriate place, outside the triangle:—

(a) “KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN”,

(b) “IF SWALLOWED OR IF SYMPTOMS OF POISONING OCCUR, CALL PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY”;

(ii) insecticides in Category II (highly toxic) shall bear the word “POISON” printed in red and the statement “KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN”, shall also appear on the label at suitable place outside the triangle;

(iii) insecticides in Category III (Moderately toxic) shall bear the word “DANGER” and the statement “KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN”; shall also appear on the label at suitable place outside the triangle;

(iv) insecticides in Category IV (Slightly toxic) shall bear the word “CAUTION”.

(5) The lower portion of the square referred to in sub-rule (94) shall contain the colour specified in column (4) of the Table below, depending on the classification of the insecticides specified in the corresponding entry in column (1) of the said Table. TABLE Classification of Medium lethal dose Medium lethal dose Colour of identification the insecticides by the oral route by the dermal route band on the label. acute toxicity LD 50 dermal toxicity LD 50 mg/kg body weight mg/kg. body weight of test animals. of test animals. 1 2 3 4

• (1) Extremely toxic 1—50 1—200 Bright red
• (2) Highly toxic 51-500 201-2000 Bright yellow
• (3) Moderately toxic 501—5000 2001—20000 Bright blue
• (4) Slightly toxic More than 5000 More than 20000 Bright green