Post || Insecticides Act 1968 and Rules 1971 [DIPLOMA IN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY]

INTRODUCTION

Modern technological innovation in agriculture has helped the country to boost the Production of food grains, even exceeding its target in the recent years. This has become possible because of judicious use of agrochemicals including pesticides wherever required in the area.  The use of pesticides in India commenced around 1948-49.  Manufacturing and use of pesticides however, has brought in tremendous danger for the human beings in and outside the industries. Provisions on Occupational Safety and Health in the Manufacturer, Formulation and use of Pesticides are covered under Insecticides Act of 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971, Factories Act, 1948 including the amendment of the Act in 1987 and the Rules framed thereunder the Petroleum Act, 1934.

THE INSECTICIDES ACT

The Insecticides Act was enacted in the year 1968 with the introduction of Insecticides Rules which came into force on the 1^st August 1971. The Insecticides Act is regulated in the country with a view to prevent risk to the human beings or animals and for matters connected therewith during the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of Insecticides.

SECTION 3 DEFINITIONS

(e) “insecticide” means

(i) any substance specified in the Schedule; or

(ii) such other substances (including fungicides and weedicides) as the Central Government may, after consultation with the Board, by notification in the Official Gazette, include in the Schedule from time to time; or

(iii) any preparation containing any one or more of such substances;

 (j) “manufacture”, in relation to any insecticide, includes—

(i) any process or part of a process for making, altering, finishing, packing, labelling, breaking up or otherwise treating or adopting any insecticide with a view to its sale, distribution or use but does not include the packing or breaking up of any insecticide in the ordinary course of retail business; and

(ii) any process by which a preparation containing an insecticide is formulated; 

SECTION NO. 4 THE CENTRAL INSECTICIDES BOARD

The implementation of the act is the joint responsibility of both, Central and State Governments. The Central Government under this Act constituted two important bodies, namely, the Central Insecticides Board and the Registration Committee. The Insecticides Board which is an apex body, advises the Central Government and State Governments on technical matters arising out of the administration of this Act. The technical matters on which Board may advise are:

· the risk to human beings or animals involved in the use of insecticides and the safety measures necessary to prevent such risk, and

·  then manufacture, sale, storage, transport and distribution of insecticides with a view to ensure safety to human being or animals.

SECTION NO. 5 REGISTRATION COMMITTEE

The Registration Committee is authorized to register insecticide after scrutinizing their formulae and verifying claims made by the importer or the manufacturer, as the case may be, as regards their efficacy and safety to human beings and animals; and to perform such other functions as prescribed in the Act. 

SECTION 17 PROHITBITION OF IMPORT AND MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN INSECTICIDES:

(1) No person shall, himself or by any person on his behalf, import or manufacture—

(a) any misbranded insecticide;

(b) any insecticide the sale, distribution or use of which is for the time being prohibited under section 27;

(c) any insecticide except in accordance with the conditions on which it was registered;

(d) any insecticide in contravention of any other provision of this Act or of any rule

(2) No person shall, himself or by any person on his behalf, manufacture any insecticide except under, and in accordance with the conditions of, a licence issued for such purpose under this Act.

SECTION 18 PROHIBITION OF SALE, ETC. OF CERTAIN PESTICIDES

Any insecticide which is not registered under this Act is prohibited for the sale, stocking, distribution and use.

SECTION 26 NOTIFICATION OF POISONING

As per the Act, all occurrences of poisoning through the use or handling of insecticides are required to be reported to the person notified by the State Government.

SECTION 27 PROHIBITION OF SALE ETC., OF INSECTICIDES FOR REASONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY

On receipt of a report under section 26 from Central Government or the State Government, that the use of any insecticide specified in SCHEDULE or any specific batch thereof is likely to involve such risk to human beings or animals as to render it expedient or necessary to take immediate action then that Government may, prohibit the sale, distribution or use of the insecticide or batch, in such area, to such extent and for such period (not exceeding sixty days) as may be specified in the notification pending investigation into the matter.

INSECTICIDES RULES, 1971

RULE NO. 10A SEGREGATION AND DISPOSAL OF DATE EXPIRED PESTICIDES

Immediately after the date of expiry all such stocks after being segregated and stamped “not for sale” or “not for use” or not for manufacture shall be kept in a separate place specially demarcated for the purpose with a declaration, date of expired insecticide to be exhibited on the conspicuous part of the place.

All such stocks then shall be disposed of in an environmental friendly manner.   

RULE NO. 16 PROHIBITION OF SALE OF DISTRIBUTION UNLESS PACKED AND LABELLED

No person shall stock or exhibit for sale or distribute any insecticide unless it is packed and labelled in accordance with the provisions of these rules.

RULE NO. 17 PACKING OF INSECTICIDES

Pesticides are usually supplied in packages which may vary greatly in size, from a small bottle or box to a large metal or plastic drum. Packages are made of glass, metal, plastic or paper. In some cases they are subject to high internal pressures/corrosion, etc. Package need to be resistant to pressure or the corrosive action of chemicals.

As per Rule 17 of the Act, the package containing an insecticide shall be of such type approved by the Registration committee to ensure public safety, product quality, transportation, safe handling and use of pesticides.

RULE NO. 18 LEAFLET TO BE CONTAINED IN A PACKAGE

The Insecticides Rule 18 prescribes that the packing of every insecticide shall include a leaflet containing the following details:

· The adequate direction concerning its usage for the plant disease, insects and noxious animals or weeds;

·   Harmful effects of chemicals to human beings, animals and wild life;

·   Warning and cautionary statements including the symptoms of poisoning;

·   Suitable and adequate safety measures;

·   Emergency first-aid treatment;

·  Cautions regarding storage and application of insecticides with suitable warnings relating to inflammable, explosive or other substances harmful to the skin;  

·   Directions concerning the decontamination or safe disposal of used containers;

·   Antidote for the poison;     

·   Effects of insecticides to the skin, nose, throat or eyes.

RULE NO. 19 MANNER OF LABELLING

Rule 19 of the Insecticides Act provides that the label of each container should have the following particulars:

·         Name of the manufacture

·         Name of Insecticide

·         Registration number of the insecticide

·         Kind and name of active and other ingredients and percentage of each

·         Net content volume

·         Batch number

·         Expiry date

·         Antidote statement

The label should be affixed to the container in such a manner that it cannot be ordinarily removed.

Label should be affixed in a prominent place in a square or as specified in sub-rule (3).

The upper portion of the square should contain the following symbols and warning statements:

Extremely toxic – category – I :

Insecticides should contain symbol of a skull and cross-bones and the word Poison printed in red.

         Warning statements should include:

         KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN

IF SWALLOWED, OR IF, SYMPTOMS OF POISONING OCCUR CALL PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY.

Highly toxic – Category II :

Insecticides should contain the word – POISON printed in red.

And warning statement :

KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN

Moderately toxic – Category III :

Should bear the word – DANGER  and statement – KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN

Slightly toxic – Category IV :

Should bear the word CAUTION

For classification and colour coding of pesticides the following Table should be followed:

 

TABLE

 

Classification of Insecticides	Medium lethal doses by the oral route (acute toxicity) LD50mg/kg body weight of lest animals	Medium lethal doses by the oral route (dermal toxicity) LD50mg/kg body weight of lest animals	Colour of identification on band on the label
1. Extremely toxic 2. Highly toxic 3. Moderate toxic 4. Slightly toxic	10          -          50 51          -          500  501        -          5000    More than 5000	1             -             200 201         -            2000 2001       -           20000 More than 20000	Bright red Bright yellow Bright blue Bright green

The package containing highly flammable insecticides should be kept away from heat or open flame and the like.

The label and leaflets to be affixed or attached to the packages containing insecticides should be printed in Hind, English and in one or two regional languages in use in the areas where the said package will be stocked, sold or distributed.

Labelling of insecticides must not bear any unwarranted claims such as:

SAFE, NON-POISONOUS, NON-INJURIOUS OR HARMLESS

RULE NO. 36 CONDITIONS TO BE SPECIFIED FOR STORAGE OF INSECTICIDES

The packing containing insecticides shall be stored in separate rooms or premises away from the rooms or premises used for storing other articles or shall be kept in separate almirahs under lock and key depending upon the quantity and nature of the insecticides.

The rooms or premises means for storing insecticides shall be well built, dry, well lit and ventilated and of sufficient dimension.

RULE NO. 37 MEDICAL EXAMINATION

Rule 37 of the Act prescribes that the workers engaged in the work of handling insecticides during their manufacture, formulation, transport, distribution or application, should be examined medically before their employment and periodically while in service by a competent physician. Any worker showing symptoms of poisoning should be immediately examined and given proper treatment.

RULE NO. 38 FIRST-AID MEASURES

As prescribed in Rule 38 of the Act, First-Aid treatment should be given, before the physician is called, in all cases of poisoning.

The Indian Standards Guide for handling of Pesticides poisoning.

          IS: 4015 (Part I)-1967: First Aid Measure, and

      IS: 4015 (PART II) – 1967: Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment should be consulted for such first-aid treatment. The workers also be educated regarding the effects of poisoning and the first-aid treatment.

RULE NO. 39 PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

RULE 39 OF THE ACT PRESCRIBED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

· Worker handling insecticides during its manufacture, formulation, transport, distribution or application should be adequately protected with appropriate clothing.

·  The protective clothing should be made of such materials so as to prevent or resist the penetration of any form of insecticides formulations.

·  The material of clothing should be washable so that the toxic chemicals may be removed after each use.

·    A complete suit of protective clothing should comprise of the following:

      -        Protective outer garment/overalls/hat,

          -        Rubber gloves or such other protective gloves extending half-way up to

 the fore-arm, made of materials impermeable to liquids,

          -        Dust-proof goggles

          -        Boots

·     The protective clothing should be used along with respiratory devices, wherever necessary.

RULE NO. 40 RESPIRATORY DEVICES

Rule 40 of the Act prescribes that the worker should use any of the following type of respirators or gas masks suitable for protection inhalation of toxic dusts, vapours or gases.

·         Chemical cartridge respirator,

·         Supplied air respirator,

·         Demand flow type respirator,

·         Full face or half-face gas masks with canister

The airborne concentration of insecticide in no case exceeds the maximum permissible values where the insecticides are mixed.

RULE NO. 41 MANUFACTURERS, ETC. TO KEEP SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES OF ANTIDOTES AND FIRST-AID MEDICINES

Rule 41 of the Act provides that the manufacturers and distributors of insecticides and persons who undertake to spry insecticide on a commercial basis should keep sufficient stocks of such first-aid tools, equipment, antidotes,. Injections and medicines as may be required to treat poisoning cases arising from inhalation, skin contamination, eye contamination and swallowing.

RULE NO. 42 TRAINING OF WORKERS

Suitable training in observing safety precautions and handling safety equipment should be given to the manufacturers, distributors of insecticides and operators as per Rule, 42.

RULE NO. 43 AERIAL SPRAYING OPERATION

Rule 43 of the Act prescribes the following provisions for the aerial spraying operations:

·         Marking of the area of the covered,

·    Use only approved insecticides and their formulations at approved        concentration and height,

·         Provide washing, decontamination and first-aid facilities,

·         Notify all aerial operation to the public not less than twenty four hours in         advance through competent authorities,

·         Prevent animals and persons not connected with the operations from

·         entering such areas for a specified period, and

·   The pilots shall undergo specialized training including clinical effects of the insecticides.

 

RULE NO. 44 DISPOSAL OF USED PACKAGE, SURPLUS MATERIALS AND WASHING OF INSECTICIDES

To prevent environment or water pollution, it shall be duty of manufacturers, formulators of insecticides to dispose packages or surplus materials and washings in a safe manner (Rule 44). The used packages shall not be left outside to prevent their re-use, and the package shall be broken and buried away from habitation.

PESTICIDES – BANNED/RESTRICTED FOR USE

The Government of India had set up an Expert Committee with a view to reviewing the continued use of pesticides in India that are either banned or restricted in other countries. As prescribed in the Insecticides Act, 1968 the following pesticide have been banned or restricted for their use.

Ø  DDT

Use of DDT in agriculture is withdrawn

Use of DDT for the public health programme to 10,000 MTs per annum in case of any major outbreak of epidemic is restricted.

Ø  Chlorobenzilate

Use of chlorobenzilate in agriculture is banned.

Ø  Dibrome-chloropropane

Banned 

Ø  Toxaphene (Camphechlor)

Banned

Ø  Sodium Cyanide

The use of sodium cyanide shall be restricted for fumigation of cotton bales

Ø  Penta-Chloro-Nitro-Benzene(PCNB)

Banned

Ø  Captafol

Captafol shall  be used only as seed dresser. 

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