413 



developed through research by both private industry and the Government have 

 greatly increased the number of economic poisons and the scope of their useful- 

 ness. An important example at the present time is DDT ( dichlorodiphenyltri- 

 chloroethane), which is revolutionizing many phases of the insecticide industry. 

 Herbicides are becoming increasingly important in the control and eradication 

 of weeds as the result of the recent development of 2-4-dichloro-phenoxy-acetic 

 acid and other synthetic materials." 



It noted that the scope of Government control, under the bill, had 

 been extended to rodenticides, herbicides, and other pesticides. The 

 control of these materials, in the interest of public safety, would be 

 improved by seven provisions: 



(1) A provision requiring the registration of economic poisons 

 prior to their sale or introduction into interstate or foreign 

 commerce. 



(2) The inclusion of provisions for protection of the public 

 against poisoning by requiring prominently displayed poison 

 warnings on the labels of highly toxic economic poisons. 



(3) A provision requiring the coloring or discoloring of dan- 

 gerous white powdered economic poisons to prevent tlieir being 

 mistaken for flour, sugar, salt, baking powder or other similar 

 articles commonly used in the preparation of foodstuffs. 



(4) A requirement that warning or caution statements be con- 

 tained on the label of the economic poison to prevent injury to 

 living man, other vertebrate animals, vegetation, and useful in- 

 vertebrate animals. 



(5) A provision requiring instructions for use to provide ade- 

 quate protection for the public. 



(6) A provision declaring economic poisons to be misbranded 

 if they are injurious to man, vertebrate animals, or vegetation, 

 except weeds, when properly used. 



(7) A provision requiring information to be furnished with 

 respect to the delivery, movement, or holding of economic poisons 

 and devices.^^ 



It also noted that prevention of injury required that action be taken 

 before toxic preparations went on the market — 



Under this bill, any economic poison subject to the provisions thereof will be 

 brought to the attention of the enforcement officials who will have an opportunity 

 to become familiar with the formula, label, and claims made with respect to any 

 such economic poison before it is offered to the public. It should be possible, there- 

 fore, in a great majority of instances, to prevent false and misleading claims, 

 and to prevent worthless articles from being marketed, and to provide a means 

 of obtaining speedy remedial action if any such articles are marketed. Thus, a 

 great measure of protection can be accorded directly through the prevention 

 of injury, rather than having to resort solely to the imposition of sanctions for 

 violations after damage or injury has been done. Registration will also afford 

 manufacturers an opportunity to eliminate many objectionable features from 

 their labels prior to placing an economic poison on the market.** 



The report concluded by listing the various Federal and State agen- 

 cies, farm organizations, industrial trade associations, and others who 

 favored passage of the bill. 



The bill came to the floor of the House, May 12, Representative An- 

 dresen explained its purposes, drawing for his text from the report. 



=n U.S. Congrress. House. Committee on Agriculture. Relating to the marketing of 

 economic poisons and devices. Report (to accompany H.R. 1237). Report No 313 80th 

 Cong., 1st sess. (Washington, U.S. Government Printing Office, Apr. 25. 1947) n 2 



*2Idem. ;. f. -«.. 



•» Ibid., p. 3. 



