6/4/2020
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`Basic Information about Pesticide Ingredients | Ingredients Used in Pesticide Products | US EPA
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`Basic Information about Pesticide Ingredients
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`Pesticide products contain both "active" and "inert" ingredients:
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`What is a Pesticide?
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`A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for
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`Preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.
`Use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant.
`Use as a nitrogen stabilizer
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`More information on types of pesticide ingredients.
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`Definition of pesticide in FIFRA
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`Información relacionada disponible en español
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`An “active ingredient” prevents, destroys, repels, or mitigates a pest, or is a
`plant regulator, defoliant, desiccant, or nitrogen stabilizer.
`All other ingredients are called "inert ingredients" by federal law. They are
`important for product performance and usability.
`Active Ingredients
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`Active ingredients are the chemicals in a pesticide product that act to control the
`pests. Active ingredients must be identified by name on the pesticide product's
`label together with its percentage by weight.
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`There are several categories of active ingredients:
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`Conventional, which are all ingredients other than biological pesticides and
`antimicrobial pesticides.
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`https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/basic-information-about-pesticide-ingredients
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`Antimicrobial, which are substances or mixtures of substances used to
`destroy or suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms whether
`bacteria, viruses, or fungi on inanimate objects and surfaces.
`Biopesticides, which are types of ingredients derived from certain natural
`materials.
`Inert Ingredients
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`Pesticide products contain at least one active ingredient and other intentionally
`added inert ingredients. Called “inert ingredients” by the federal law, they are
`combined with active ingredients to make a pesticide product. Inerts are
`chemicals, compounds, and other substances, including common food
`commodities (e.g., certain edible oils, spices, herbs) and some natural materials
`(e.g., beeswax, cellulose).
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`The name “inert” does not mean non-toxic. All inert ingredients must be approved
`by EPA before they can be included in a pesticide. We review safety information
`about each inert ingredient before approval. If the pesticide will be applied to food
`or animal feed, a food tolerance is required for each inert ingredient in the
`product, and we may limit the amount of each inert ingredient in the product.
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`Inert ingredients play key roles in pesticide effectiveness and product
`performance. Examples of functions inerts can serve include:
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`Act as a solvent to help the active ingredient penetrate a plant's leaf surface.
`Improve the ease of application by preventing caking or foaming.
`Extend the product's shelf-life.
`Improve safety for the applicator.
`Protect the pesticide from degradation due to exposure to sunlight.
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`Under federal law, the identity of inert ingredients is confidential business
`information. The law does not require manufacturers to identify inert ingredients
`by name or percentage on product labels. In general, only the total percentage of
`all inert ingredients is required to be on the pesticide product label.
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`Information on inert ingredients:
`Inert Ingredients Overview and Guidance
`Inert Ingredient Regulation
`Other/Inert Ingredients in Pesticides EXIT
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`Evaluating Pesticide Ingredients
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`Before manufacturers can sell pesticides in the United States, EPA must evaluate
`them thoroughly to ensure that they meet federal safety standards to protect
`human health and the environment. We grant a "registration" or license that
`permits a pesticide's distribution, sale, and use only after the company meets the
`scientific and regulatory requirements.
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`In evaluating a pesticide registration application, we assess a wide variety of
`potential human health and environmental effects associated with use of the
`pesticide. Potential registrants must generate scientific data necessary to address
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`Basic Information about Pesticide Ingredients | Ingredients Used in Pesticide Products | US EPA
`concerns pertaining to the:
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`identity,
`composition,
`potential adverse effects, and
`environmental fate
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`of each pesticide. The data allow us to evaluate whether a pesticide could harm
`certain nontarget organisms and endangered species. We evaluate both the active
`ingredient and the products in which the active ingredient is used.
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`We regulate pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
`Act. See more information on these pesticide categories:
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`Conventional pesticide registration
`Antimicrobial pesticide registration
`Biopesticide registration
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`LAST UPDATED ON JULY 15, 2019
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`https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/basic-information-about-pesticide-ingredients
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