The WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard

ISBN: 92 4 154663 8

This document sets out a classification system to distinguish between the more and the less hazardous forms of selected pesticides based on acute risk to human health (that is the risk of single or multiple exposures over a relatively short period of time). It takes into consideration the toxicity of the technical compound and its common formulations.

The document lists common technical grade pesticides and recommended classifications together with a listing of active ingredients believed to be obsolete or discontinued for use as pesticides, pesticides subject to the prior informed consent procedure, limitations to trade because of the POPs convention, and gaseous or volatile fumigants not classified under these recommendations.

This document replaces the 2000-2002 edition of the classification and as a novelty, provides web links to most of the source documents.

As has been the case for previous editions of the classification, this edition complies with the original guidelines approved by the World Health Assembly in 1975. In December 2002 the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNCETDG/GHS) approved a document called "The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals" with the intent to provide a globally-harmonized system to address classification of chemicals, labels, and safety data sheets. Classification and labelling based on acute toxicity form a part of the GHS, and there are some differences between the GHS and the WHO traditional classification of pesticides by hazard. WHO is in the process of adjusting the Pesticide Classification to conform to the GHS; the results of this process are expected to be available in the next edition of the Classification, to be published within the next two years.