408 



Addition of colorino; materials to poisonous white powders to 

 distinijuish them from harmless white powders ; 



Prohibition against misbranding of pesticides, defined as in- 

 jurious to man, vertebrate animals, or useful vegetation, when 

 used in accordance with instructions on the label : 



Reports concerning delivery, movement, or inventory of eco- 

 nomic poisons and pesticidal devices. 



The requirement for registration was designed to correct an inade- 

 quacy in the 1910 act, under which the enforcing agency had no way 

 to know what poisons were being marketed, except by field investiga- 

 tion. Sometimes the agencv learned of new products only from reports 

 of hazard or damage with their use. The 1947 act required that such 

 poisons be made known to enforcement officials in advance of their 

 being marketed, so that these officials could familiarize themselves 

 with the formula, label, and manufacturer's claims in advance. This 

 would help to prevent false and misleading claims, prevent the market- 

 ing of worthless preparations, and assure that a strong legal case was 

 immediately available to punish violators of the registration require- 

 ment and remove their product from the market promptly. 



Two subsequent changes were made in Federal law respecting fun- 

 eicides after 1947. Tlie first was nn amendment to the Federal Food, 

 Drucr. and Cosmetic Act (the Millor pe^^ticide chemicals amendment 

 of 1954) which prescribed n method to control the extent of pesticide 

 residues on marketed airricultural produce. Tlie determination of ques- 

 tions of nirricultural usefulness and probable resVhie Ipvels involved in 

 the establ'«bment ^^^ <-oipr;">"ces wn- T'">nr''^ f^ -fnnr^+ion of t1ip F)onp^"''''""p^">t 

 of Agriculture, while the Department of Healtli, Education, and "Wel- 

 fare determined question^ of public heaHh. The a^t placed the burden 

 of proof on persons desiring a r'baufire in Permitted tolerances. Ad- 

 visory services were to be provided by committees of experts designated 

 by the National Academy of Sciences.^ 



The other lesrislative change was an enlnrgement in the scope of 

 the act of 1947 to include various other toxic or potentially harmful 

 pesticides.'' 



Later on, in 1962, when public agitation over the widespread use of 

 poisonous pesticirVs was stimulated by thf Carson book, the control 

 mechanisms established bv authority of the existing legislation was 

 expanded and strengthened bv administrative fiat. Arrangements were 

 set up for coordination of the various agency programs related to 

 pesticide control and u'^e, and research into mnnv aspects of pesticide 

 toxicitv and adverse effects was greatly expanded. Increasingly, after 

 1962, congressional concern over the pesticide control question became 

 mereed with a broader concern for the preservation and improve- 

 ment of the human environment itself, in the light of the total ranq^e of 

 ecological impairments resulting from human technology and culture. 



The dilrmma of peMicirle covfam^r\fif7on and pi^f^enfioVdy 



The difRcultv poced by chemical pesticides in the mid-1 960's can 

 be illustrated by citing two studies prepared by the President's Science 



«Pnhlif I.nw 83-?51S. S3.1 Cons.. fiS Rtnt. 511. npnroved July 22. 19.54. 

 'Tliis wns the N<^iriat-ncif'». Plant Rppnlator. Ppfoliant. nnrj Desiceant Amendiripnt of 

 1959, Piiblie Law 86-1.^9. 7.3 Stat. 2R6, approved Aug. 7, 1959. 



