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Pesticide Labelling: A Small Sticker with a Big Impact

The Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS) will launch a committee to spearhead and participate in work on the adoption of international standards for Cannabis.

The SLBS has established a National Ad Hoc Mirror Committee of ASTM International on Cannabis (Committee D37) which brings together representatives of educational and research institutions, state and non-state actors with a wealth of knowledge and experience that will guide the participation in the ASTM committee and adoption of the appropriate standards.

The SLBS has an established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ASTM International which is responsible for the development of American standards for testing and metrology.  Under the terms of the MOU, Saint Lucia can join technical committees of the ASTM and contribute to the development of these standards.

In light of the growing regional interest in the use of Cannabis, the SLBS Ad Hoc Mirror committee will review and follow the work being done by ASTM.  The ASTM D37 Committee currently has established sub committees to address the following:

D37.01 Indoor and Outdoor Horticulture and Agriculture

D37.02 Quality Management Systems

D37.03 Laboratory

D37.04 Processing and Handling

D37.05 Security and Transportation

D37.06 Personnel Training, Assessment, Credentialing

D37.07 Industrial Hemp

D37.90 Executive

D37.91 Terminology

The mirror committee is expected to meet four (4) times per year to review the standards for development that are under the work plan of ASTM D37 Cannabis.  Members of the committee are expected to review documents and circulate them within their organization for suitable comments and feedback.  Members also share areas of concern for their organization, which requires standards development.

https://www.astm.org/COMMIT/ASTMCannabisCommitteeFeatureStandardizationNews.pdf

An orientation and launch of this new committee took place on Friday, 22nd March 2019, at 9:30 am at the office of the SLBS, Bisee Industrial Estate Castries.

Every time you see a bottle of pesticide in the store, backyard, or garden centre, its label carries more than just instructions. It carries your protection. From farmers in the field to consumers at home, clear and standardized pesticide labels are essential for protecting health, food, and the environment. Under the standard for Pesticides Labelling, all pesticide containers sold, transported, or otherwise distributed must clearly display vital information for everyone’s health and safety. 

With standardized labels, we ensure: 

Health & Safety

Without clear labels, people risk accidental poisoning; whether from breathing in dangerous chemicals, applying too much, or misusing them around children or pets. Labels tell you what safety gear to use, how long to wait after use, and what to do if something goes wrong. 

 Food & Water Protection

Labels include instructions about wait periods before harvesting food, before re entry into treated fields, and before animals can graze on treated pastures. This helps prevent harmful residues in your food or water. 

Environmental Care

Correct labelling helps protect wildlife, rivers, beaches, and ecosystems. It guides safe disposal of containers and warns about hazards to non target species like bees and fish, which can be severely harmed. 

Legal Rights & Consumer Confidence

You have the right to know what you’re using! With accurate labels, you can verify that the pesticide is registered, the manufacturer is responsible, and the product meets legal safety standards. Unauthorized or mislabeled products can be reported.