Chemical labels explained
The labels on garden chemicals provide important information on when, where and how to use that product. Our handy guide helps you decipher this information so you can be sure to use them as safely as possible.
Quick facts
Weedkillers have a big environmental impact and the 911爆料 encourages gardeners to use alternative, non-chemical control methods
1
Pesticides, also known as plant protection products, include insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and molluscicides
2
Manufacturers of regulated pesticides are obliged by law to print the name of the active ingredient on the label
3
Details of approved active ingredients and products can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website
4
Pesticides and their containers should be disposed of responsibly and legally; see our guide to storing and disposing of chemicals safely
5
Banning of sale and use of pesticides
UK legislation requires approval for active ingredients used in pesticides, including those for use by home gardeners. Products approved in the UK are assigned a (Ministerially Approved Pesticide Product) number. A list of approved active ingredients for home gardeners and information on products for sale containing a particular active ingredient can be found in the section of the HSE website.
Active ingredients withdrawn since 2002 are listed below. They are listed alphabetically, within categories according to their use. Product names containing the active ingredient are included, but bear in mind that some product names are retained, or only slightly altered, after their active ingredient has been changed. It is advisable to read the label carefully to find the active ingredient when buying a pesticide. You should also check the label on any products you have stored to find the active ingredient and make sure they are still approved for use.
Withdrawn insecticides, molluscicides and animal repellents
Active ingredient鈥叠颈蹿别苍迟丑谤颈苍
Brand names鈥疊ayer Sprayday Greenfly Killer Plus, Bayer Multirose 3-in-1, Bayer Bug-Free, Bayer Bug and Disease Killer, Doff All in One Garden Pest Killer, Scotts Rose Clear 3, Scotts Rose Clear 3 Gun, Scotts Bug Clear Gun
Main use鈥疺arious insects and鈥痳ed spider mite
Last date of use鈥�31.5.11
Active ingredient鈥疊one oil
Brand name鈥疪别苍补谤诲颈苍别
Main use鈥疉nimal repellent, particularly foxes
Last date of use鈥�24.3.05
Active ingredient鈥疌丑濒辞谤辫测谤颈辫丑辞蝉
Brand name鈥疊io Chlorophos
Main use鈥疺egetable root flies
Last date of use鈥�15.6.02
Active ingredient鈥疍颈尘别迟丑辞补迟别
Brand name鈥疍off Systemic Insecticide
Main use鈥疭ap-feeding insects
Last date of use鈥�31.8.02
Active ingredient Imidacloprid
Brand names Bayer Provado Lawn Grub Killer, Bayer Provado Ultimate Bug Killer
Main use鈥疺arious pests
Last date of use 30.11.13
Active ingredient鈥�Lindane
Brand names鈥疍off Gamma BHC Dust, Doff Weevil Killer, Doff Ant Killer
Main use鈥疺arious soil pests and ants
Last date of use鈥�20.6.02
Active ingredient鈥疢补濒补迟丑颈辞苍
Brand name鈥疢urphy Liquid Malathion
Main use鈥疺arious insects and mites
Last date of use鈥�30.11.02
Active ingredient鈥�Metaldehyde
Brand names鈥疷ltimate Slug and Snail Killer, Deadfast Slug Killer, Doff Slug Killer Blue Mini Pellets, Westland Eraza Slug and Snail Killer
Main use鈥疭lugs and snails
Last date of use鈥�31.3.22
Active ingredient鈥疨别谤尘别迟丑谤颈苍
Brand name鈥疕omebase All in One Insecticide
Main use鈥疺arious insects
Last date of use鈥�27.6.02
Active ingredient鈥�Pirimicarb
Brand names鈥疪ose Clear 2
Main use鈥疉辫丑颈诲蝉鈥�
Last date of use鈥�31.12.03
Active ingredient鈥疨颈谤颈尘颈辫丑辞蝉-尘别迟丑测濒
Brand name鈥疐umite General Purpose Smoke Cone
Main use鈥疓lasshouse pests
Last date of use鈥�31.7.03
Active ingredient鈥疪别蝉尘别迟丑谤颈苍
Brand name鈥疺itax House Plant pest killer
Main use鈥疕ouseplant insects
Last date of use鈥�31.12.03
Active ingredient鈥疪辞迟别苍辞苍别
Brand names鈥疊io Liquid Derris Plus, Doff Derris Dust, Vitax Derris Dust
Main use鈥疺arious leaf pests
Last date of use鈥�10.10.09
Active ingredient鈥疶ar oils and tar acids
Brand names鈥疢urphy Mortegg
Main use鈥疉phid鈥痚ggs on fruit trees
Last date of use鈥�31.12.04
Active ingredient鈥疶ar oils and tar acids
Brand name鈥疉rmillatox (Armillatox remains on the market as a disinfectant, but is no longer permitted to be used for pesticidal purposes)
Main use鈥疺ine weevil鈥痚ggs
Last date for use鈥�31.12.03
Active ingredient Thiacloprid
Brand names Bayer Provado Ultimate Bug Killer, Baby Bio House Plant Insecticide, Bayer Multirose Bug Killer, Bayer Provado Vine Weevil Killer 2
Main use鈥疺arious pests
Withdrawn 3.2.20
Active ingredient Thiamethoxam
Brand names Westland Plant Rescue Bug Killer Ornamental Plants, Westland Bug Attack Quick Sticks
Main use Various pests
Last date of use 30.11.13
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Withdrawn fungicides
Active ingredient鈥疌补谤产别苍诲补锄颈尘
Brand names鈥疍off Plant Disease Control, Spotless
Main use鈥疺arious diseases
Last date of use鈥�30.6.03
Active ingredient鈥�Copper oxychloride
Brand name鈥疊ayer Garden Fruit and Vegetable Disease Control
Main use鈥疌ontrol of celery leaf spot, peach leaf curl, potato blight, tomato blight, apple and pear canker, bacterial canker of plums and cherries, rust on currants and gooseberries, cane鈥痵pot on raspberries and loganberries, damping off and foot rot of鈥痵eedlings
Last date of use鈥�30.11.15
Active ingredient鈥疌opper sulphate
Brand name鈥疌heshunt compound
Main use鈥疍amping off鈥痠n seedlings
Last date of use鈥�30.11.11
Active ingredient鈥疌opper sulphate plus hydrated lime (Bordeaux mixture)
Brand name鈥疺itax Bordeaux mixture
Main use鈥疌ontrols blight on potato and tomato, celery leaf spot, apple canker, bacterial canker on cherry and plum, peach leaf curl, black currant and gooseberry rust
Last date of use鈥�30.11.15
Active ingredient鈥疍颈蹿别苍辞肠辞苍补锄辞濒别
Brand name鈥疻estland Plant Rescue Fungus Control (This active ingredient has not been withdrawn but the products containing it are no longer being marketed to home gardeners)
Main use鈥疌ontrol of powdery mildews, rust, powdery mildews, rose blackspot and rust and scabs on fruit and vegetables
Last date of use鈥�30.6.15
Active ingredient鈥疢补苍肠辞锄别产
Brand name鈥疍ithane (Amateur products containing it are no longer being marketed and all products are due to be withdrawn from sale 30.11.24)
Main use鈥疺arious diseases
Withdrawn: 30.11.24
Active ingredient Myclobutanil
Brand names Rosegarde, Rose Shield Bug & Fungus Killer, Resolva Rose 3 in 1,
Multirose 2 Bug Killer and Disease Control
Main use Control of rust, black spot and powdery mildew on roses; rust and powdery mildew on ornamentals
Withdrawn 31.5.21
Active ingredient鈥疨别苍肠辞苍补锄辞濒别
Brand name鈥�Fungus Attack (This active ingredient has not been withdrawn but the products containing it are no longer being marketed)
Main use鈥疺arious diseases on roses and ornamentals
Last date of use鈥�Not applicable
Active ingredient Sulphur
Many fungicides containing sulphur were withdrawn, with a last date of use set for 31.12.11. However, sulphur is now an approved active ingredient in some fungicides. Only sulphur products with a MAPP number should be used to control fungal diseases.
Active ingredient鈥疶ar oils and tar acids
Brand names鈥疉rmillatox and Jeyes Fluid (Armillatox and Jeyes Fluid remain on the market as disinfectants, but they are no longer permitted to be used for pesticidal purposes)
Main use鈥疕oney fungus and clubroot (Armillatox), soil sterilisation (Jeyes Fluid)
Last date for use鈥�31.12.03
Active ingredient鈥疶hiophanate methyl
Brand name鈥疊io Liquid Club Root Control
Main use鈥疌濒耻产谤辞辞迟
Last date for use鈥�31.12.05
Active ingredient鈥疶riforine and bupirimate
Brand name鈥疪ose Clear 2
Main use鈥疪ose diseases
Last date for use鈥�31.12.03
Withdrawn weedkillers, mosskillers and plant growth regulators
Weedkillers/herbicides:
Active ingredient鈥疉mmonium sulphamate
Brand names鈥疍eep Root, Root Out, Amcide, Doff Tree Stump & Tough Weedkiller and others鈥�
Main use鈥疻oody weeds and stumps
Last date for use鈥�22.5.08
Active ingredient鈥�Atrazine
Brand names鈥疭cotts Pathclear, Doff Total Path Weedkiller
Main use鈥疻别别诲蝉
Last date for use鈥�10.9.05
Active ingredient鈥疍颈肠丑濒辞产别苍颈濒
Brand name鈥疌asoron G4 Weed Barrier
Main use鈥疻eed control on unplanted ground and around established trees and shrubs
Last date for use鈥�18.3.10
Active ingredient鈥疍颈肠丑濒辞谤辞辫谤辞辫
Brand names鈥疢any brands
Main use鈥疞awn weeds
Last date for use鈥�31.12.03
Active ingredient:鈥疍颈耻谤辞苍
Brand name鈥疍off Long-lasting Path Weedkiller
Main use鈥疻别别诲蝉 on hard surfaces
Last date for use鈥�13.12.08
Active ingredient:鈥疍颈辩耻补迟
Brand names鈥疶his active ingredient was removed from products and the brand names continue to be used
Main use鈥疻别别诲蝉
Last date for use鈥�31.7.19
Active ingredient鈥疓lufosinate ammonium
Brand names鈥�FITO Garden Weedkiller and FITO Patio Weedkiller (Products containing this active ingredient are no longer being marketed)
Main use鈥疻别别诲蝉
Last date for use鈥疦ot applicable
Active ingredient鈥疨补谤补辩耻补迟
Brand name鈥疭cotts Weedol
Main use鈥疻别别诲蝉
Last date for use鈥�30.4.06
Active ingredient鈥疭颈尘补锄颈苍别
Brand names鈥疭cotts Pathclear, Doff Total Path Weedkiller
Main use鈥疻别别诲蝉
Last date for use鈥�10.9.05
Active ingredient鈥疭odium chlorate
Brand names鈥疍off Sodium Chlorate Weedkiller, Gem Stop Weeds Ready-to-Use, Gem Stop Weeds Sodium Chlorate, DeadFast Sodium Chlorate Weedkiller, Vitax Sodium Chlorate Weedkiller
Main use鈥疻别别诲蝉
Last date for use鈥�10.5.10
Active ingredient鈥疶ar oils and tar acids
Brand name鈥疉rmillotox (Armillatox remains on the market as a disinfectant, but is no longer permitted to be used for pesticidal purposes)
Main use鈥疢osses, lichens or liverworts
Last date for use鈥�31.12.03
Active ingredient鈥疶BA (2,3,6-trichlorobenzoic acid)
Brand name鈥疶辞耻肠丑飞别别诲别谤
Main use鈥疞awn weeds
Last date for use鈥�31.12.03
Moss Killers:
Active ingredient鈥�Dichlorophen
Brand names鈥疊io Kills Moss on Lawns
Main use鈥疞awn mosskiller
Last date for use鈥�30.9.06
Plant Growth Regulators:
Active ingredient鈥�Dichlorophen
Brand names鈥疊aby Bio Roota
Main use鈥疕ormone鈥痳ooting compound
Last date for use鈥�30.4.06
Active ingredient鈥疦AA (1-naphthylacetic acid)
Brand names鈥疍off Hormone Rooting Powder
Main use鈥疕ormone rooting compound
Last date for use鈥�30.06.17
Active ingredient鈥疍颈办别驳耻濒补肠
Brand names鈥疌耻迟濒补蝉蝉
Main use鈥疕edge growth retardant
Last date for use鈥�31.12.03
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