Under FIFRA, what does it mean when applicators say that the pesticide label is the law?
Based on: 40 CFR 156.10(i)(2)(ii); FIFRA 12(a)(2)(G)
New York Pesticide Applicator Exam · Label
New York Pesticide Exam Practice Questions: Labels and Compliance (2026)
The label is the single most tested subject on the New York pesticide applicator core exam: 10 of the 50 questions cover label comprehension, and you must answer at least 7 of them correctly to pass, whatever your overall score. The reason is legal, not academic. Under FIFRA section 12(a)(2)(G) it is unlawful to use any registered pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling, and every label carries that warning directly below the statement of use classification, per 40 CFR 156.10(i)(2)(ii). Learn the parts of the label under 40 CFR Part 156 and this becomes the easiest 10 questions on the paper.
Practice
Free practice questions
Where on a pesticide label must the statement that it is a violation of Federal law to use the product inconsistently with its labeling appear?
Based on: 40 CFR 156.10(i)(2)(ii)
Which of the following must every pesticide product label show clearly and prominently?
Based on: 40 CFR 156.10(a)(1)
Which item is part of the information a pesticide label is required to display?
Based on: 40 CFR 156.10(a)(1)
A pesticide label's Directions for Use must identify which of the following for each treatment site?
Based on: 40 CFR 156.10(i)(2)
What kind of limitation does the Directions for Use commonly state to prevent unreasonable adverse effects on food crops?
Based on: 40 CFR 156.10(i)(2)(x)
Where must the statement Restricted Use Pesticide appear on a restricted use product's label?
Based on: 40 CFR 156.10(j)(2)
How large must the Restricted Use Pesticide statement be relative to the rest of the label?
Based on: 40 CFR 156.10(j)(2)
How must a product whose uses are all classified general be labeled with respect to classification?
Based on: 40 CFR 156.10(j)(1)
How many acute Toxicity Categories does EPA use to classify pesticide products?
Based on: 40 CFR 156.62
The parts of the label the exam tests
40 CFR 156.10(a)(1) lists what every pesticide label must show clearly and prominently: the product name, the producer's name and address, the net contents, the EPA registration number, the producing establishment number, the ingredient statement, hazard and precautionary statements, and the directions for use. Each part has its own rules. The ingredient statement under 156.10(g) gives the name and percentage by weight of each active ingredient plus the total percentage of inert ingredients, and the two must sum to 100. The registration number must be preceded by EPA Reg. No. under 156.10(e), and the establishment number by EPA Est. under 156.10(f). The Directions for Use under 156.10(i)(2) must state the sites of application, the target pests for each site, the dosage rate, the application method and the frequency, and the use limitations under 156.10(i)(2)(x) include preharvest intervals and rotational crop restrictions. Storage and disposal directions are grouped under the heading Storage and Disposal per 156.10(i)(2)(ix). A restricted use product announces itself: 156.10(j)(2) requires the statement Restricted Use Pesticide at the top of the front panel, set in type as large as the human hazard signal word. And all required text must be in English, at least 6-point type, on a contrasting background, per 156.10(a)(2) and (a)(3).
Toxicity categories, signal words and the front panel
EPA assigns every product to one of four acute Toxicity Categories under 40 CFR 156.62, with Category I the most toxic and Category IV the least, and a category is assigned separately for each of five routes: oral, dermal and inhalation toxicity plus eye and skin irritation. The signal word under 156.64 reflects the highest category among all routes: DANGER for Category I, WARNING for Category II, CAUTION for Category III, and no signal word required for Category IV, though CAUTION may be used. If a product is Category I based on oral, inhalation or dermal toxicity, the word POISON must appear in red with the skull and crossbones symbol in immediate proximity; a product that reaches Category I only through skin or eye irritation bears DANGER without POISON. The signal word must reflect the product as sold, not a diluted form, and a label may not carry different signal words on different panels, per 156.64(b). Two more front-panel fixtures: every product must bear Keep Out of Reach of Children near the signal word under 156.66, even Category IV products, and the first aid statement must appear on the front panel of any Category I product under 156.68. Finally, learn the compliance distinction in 40 CFR 171.103(c)(1)(ix): mandatory statements use words such as must, do not or shall and are enforceable federal law, while advisory statements use should or recommended and offer guidance.
| Toxicity Category | Signal word | What else the label must do |
|---|---|---|
| Category I (most toxic) | DANGER | POISON in red plus the skull and crossbones when Category I is based on oral, dermal or inhalation toxicity; first aid statement on the front panel (156.68) |
| Category II | WARNING | First aid statement may appear on any panel (156.68(d)) |
| Category III | CAUTION | First aid statement may appear on any panel (156.68(d)) |
| Category IV (least toxic) | None required; CAUTION if any signal word is used | Keep Out of Reach of Children still required (156.66) |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the label rule on the New York pesticide core exam?
Ten of the exam's 50 questions test label and labeling comprehension, and you must answer at least 7 of those 10 correctly in addition to scoring 35 of 50 overall. That mirrors the federal competency standards: 40 CFR 171.103(c)(1) makes label comprehension the first core competency area for every certified commercial applicator.
What signal word goes with each toxicity category?
Under 40 CFR 156.64, a Toxicity Category I product bears DANGER, Category II bears WARNING, and Category III bears CAUTION. A Category IV product needs no signal word, but if one is used it must be CAUTION. The signal word always reflects the highest toxicity category among the product's five routes of exposure, as the product is distributed or sold.
When must a pesticide label show POISON and the skull and crossbones?
Only when the product is in Toxicity Category I based on oral, inhalation or dermal toxicity, per 40 CFR 156.64(a)(1). Then the word POISON must be printed in red on a distinctly contrasting background with the skull and crossbones in immediate proximity. A product that is Category I solely for skin or eye irritation bears DANGER but not POISON.
Is it illegal in New York to ignore what a pesticide label says?
Yes, if the language is mandatory. FIFRA section 12(a)(2)(G) makes it unlawful to use any registered pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling, and every label repeats that warning per 40 CFR 156.10(i)(2)(ii). Note the distinction in 40 CFR 171.103(c)(1)(ix): statements using must, do not or shall are enforceable; statements using should or recommended are advisory.
How can I tell a restricted use product from its label?
Look at the top of the front panel. Under 40 CFR 156.10(j)(2), a restricted use product must bear the statement Restricted Use Pesticide there, set in type as large as the human hazard signal word, typically with a restriction limiting retail sale to, and use by, certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision.