Chemistry and specifications of pesticides

This report presents the conclusions of a WHO Expert Committee commissioned to make recommendations on specifications for pesticides used in public health, with a view to promoting the manufacture and use of high-quality products that are both effective against susceptible vectors of disease and acceptable in terms of safety. These specifications serve mainly for purchase and quality-control purposes, but may also be useful for product registration by WHO Member States. The text includes an outline of the objectives and achievements of the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES) and an overview of recent trends in pesticide usage in the various WHO regions. Analytical methods and quality control of pesticides in developing countries are discussed, and the Committee's recommendations for specifications for various types of pesticides are presented. The Committee also considered pesticide containers and packaging, marking and storage, as well as the problems of disposal of unusable pesticides and their containers. Recommendations for continued collaboration between WHO and other organizations are summarized, as are the Committee's more general recommendations for WHO's future work in the area of pesticides. Annexed to the report are the Committee's recommendations for changes to existing specifications and methods, for new pesticides and formulations, and for new methods.