Difference Between Banned & Restricted Pesticide

Banned Pesticides

• Banned pesticides are those that can't be used by anyone or for any purpose because or they pose an unacceptable level of risk. It is illegal to sell banned pesticides or import them from another country. One of the most notorious examples of a banned insecticide is DDT, which brought several species of birds close to extinction by causing the thinning of egg shells. DDT also negatively impacts human health and causes numerous environmental concerns. Some pesticides that are banned at first can later be approved if the manufacturer can change the label so that the intended use or method of application becomes safer.

Restricted Pesticides

• Restricted pesticides include those that are only registered for use on a specific plant or plants as well as those that can only be applied by specially trained and certified professionals. You must always read the label thoroughly before using an insecticide to make sure it is intended for your purpose. Registered insecticide labels indicate the plant or plants for which the insecticide is registered. The label will say "Restricted Use Pesticide" in large letters followed by the reason, for example, "Due to acute inhalation toxicity." One such restricted pesticide is aldicarb, which has a history of serious ill effects due to misapplication.

Canceled Pesticides

• Pesticide registration can be cancelled for a number of reasons. The manufacturer may fail to pay required fees or voluntarily withdraw the product. In addition, changes in regulations or label problems may cause the EPA to cancel the registration of a product that was previously allowed. Regardless of the reason for the cancellation, the pesticide cannot be sold or imported into the U.S. unless the issue is resolved.

Safe Pesticide Use

• Read the entire label before using a pesticide. Make sure you understand which pests and plants the pesticide is approved for, mixing instructions, application instructions and precautions. Use suggested or required safety equipment including goggles, masks, gloves and skin covering. Apply pesticides on relatively calm days to prevent wind dispersal and check to see if the pesticide is safe to use near water. When using pesticides on vegetables and fruit, observe the stated period of delay before harvest. Pesticide labels contain the words "danger," "warning" or "caution" to indicate the relative toxicity, with "caution" indicating the least toxic option and "danger" indicating the most toxic. Always use the least toxic alternative.