Pesticide FAQs
Information on Pesticides


What is a pesticide? Is it different from an insecticide?

The suffix "-cide" means an act related to killing (from the Latin caedere : "to cut, kill, hack (at), strike"). When attached to a word indicating an animal or plant considered to be pestilent, the combined word is frequently used to indicate a substance used to eliminate the pest in question - Wikipedia. Thus, a pesticide means the killing of a pest or the substance used to perform this function - the target can be an insect (insecticide), rodent (rodenticide), fungus (fungicide), acarid (acaricide), bird (avicide), weed or herb (weedicide or herbicide), bacteria (bactericide), germs (germicide), virus (viricide), microbes (microbicide), and so on. Thus, all insecticides are pesticides, but all pesticides are not necessarily insecticides. Sometimes, insecticides are referred to or grouped according to their use against specific insects (eg. termiticides against termites) or stages of their growth (eg. larvicides against larvae and adulticides against adult stages of mosquitoes).


Are all pesticides poisons? Do they all kill in the same way?

Most pesticides are chemicals which have a toxic effect on the target pest - however, they can have different modes of action and are designed to target the pest based on its biology and behaviour. Some are stomach poisons (which are ingested by the pest), some are contact poisons (which kill pests when they come into contact with the poison which enters their body through the skin or body openings), some interfere with the blood coagulation process, while some disrupt the nervous system. Some non-toxic pesticides (such as Insect Growth Regulators or IGRs) do not kill the pest directly but disrupt its growth, preventing it from leading a normal existence, causing death. A point to remember is that all pesticides come with label instructions which give the recommended dosage.


Are there any laws or regulations for pesticides in India?

Yes. The Insecticides Act, 1968  and Insecticides Rules, 1971 regulate the import, registration process, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risk to human beings or animals and for all connected matters, throughout India. All pesticides have to necessarily undergo the registration process with the Central Insecticides Board (CIB) & Registration Committee (RC)  before they can be made available for use or sale. Thus, technically we can say that all insecticides (pesticides) in India are those substances that are listed on the "Schedule" of the Insecticides Act, 1968. The Registration Certificate mandates that a label be put on the packaging, which clearly indicates the nature of the insecticide (Agricultural or Household use), composition, active ingredient, target pest(s), recommended dosage, caution sign and safety precautions. Therefore, a pesticide labelled for agriculture is not be used in a household.


Are any pesticides banned in India?

Yes, there are. The CIB & RC scrutinizes and periodically reviews all pesticides and their usage - some are banned from registration itself. Sometimes a pesticide can be banned even after registration when it causes serious environmental and public health concerns. Some pesticides are meant for "restricted use" which means that they can be used only for prescribed purposes and by authorised personnel by obtaining the appropriate Government license.

The entire list can be viewed at : List of Banned Pesticides in India



Do pesticides come in different forms? How should one use pesticides?

Pesticides are available in two basic forms : concentrates and ready-to-use (RTU). Some Concentrates are mixed in recommended doses with carriers (such as water or solvents) to achieve a diluted liquid that can be sprayed, injected or applied to target areas, while certain concentrates, in powder form, need to be mixed with a bait material before use (especially for rodenticides). Concentrates as well as RTUs are available in liquid, powder (dust), gel, granular or cake form. These can be applied through various means such as sprayers, dusters, specialised applicators or manual placement. All RTU pesticides available over the counter should be used after thoroughly reading the label instructions; some household pesticides are available only for professional use. Concentrates available to professional pest managers or pest control operators (PCOs) cannot be used directly as they are too toxic to be used as such and intended dosage on target cannot be achieved. Therefore you see our technicians mixing these concentrates with a carrier like water or solvent and then spraying. This mixing has to be in dosages which are recommended by pesticide manufacturers (and are mentioned on the label).



Can I use any pesticide in my home? Should I do it myself or call a professional?

RTU products available in the market should be used at home after reading the label instructions thoroughly. Professional pest managers from a reputed company are best suited to carry out pest control in your home - they are specialists, highly skilled, trained in pesticides, application equipment and their use and have access to professional-use products which are not available over the counter. They can readily explain treatment methods, pesticides used and the general why's and what's of their business along with advice on hygiene and pest prevention.



More Information :
> US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Citizen's Guide to Pest Control & Pesticide Safety
> World Health Organisation Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES)