Chap. 0517 An Act regulating the labelling of preparations containing ddt, so called, and of certain other preparations deemed to be poisonous, toxic or dangerous to the public health.

Be it enacted, etc., as follows:

Section 1. Chapter two hundred and seventy of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section two A, as appearing in the Tercentenary Edition, the follow-

ing section: - Section 2B. No person shall manufacture, distribute, sell, exchange, deliver, or have in his possession with intent to distribute, sell, exchange or deliver, any preparation containing dichloro-diphenyl-trichlo-roethane, hereinafter referred to as DDT, unless each bottle, can, package or other container designed for consumer use containing such preparation is plainly labelled as herein provided. The label shall include on its most prominent face a correct statement of the percentage of DDT contained in such preparation, printed in the English language in conspicuous and easily legible type, and the percentage figures shall accompany, in type of equal size, the initials DDT wherever the same appear in greatest prominence on such label; provided, that, if the DDT content of such preparation is greater than one per cent, the statement " per cent DDT", with the correct percentage appearing therein, shall be printed on the most prominent face of the label in type not less than three sixteenths of an inch in height. Such label shall further include the word "Caution" in conspicuous type, followed by statements and warnings in the English language as to the toxicity of the preparation if inhaled or if brought into contact with the skin of man or animals, together with directions for removal of the same from the skin in case of accidental contact. The label shall also include instructions in the English language relative to the prevention of contamination of foodstuffs by such preparation.

The department of public health is hereby authorized to adopt regulations, consistent with regulations adopted under any federal law pertaining to the distribution and sale of such preparations in interstate commerce, and to amend or annul the same from time to time, prescribing additional labelling requirements for preparations containing DDT. Said department is hereby further authorized to prescribe regulations for the labelling of other preparations for the destruction of pests or vermin deemed by it to be poisonous, toxic or dangerous to the public health and not specifically mentioned in this section or in section two, and such regulations shall be consistent with regulations adopted under any federal law pertaining to the distribution and sale of such preparations in interstate commerce.

Whoever manufactures, distributes, sells, exchanges, delivers, or has in his possession with intent to distribute, sell, exchange or deliver, any preparation containing DDT not labelled as provided herein, or any other preparation for the destruction of pests or vermin deemed by said department to be poisonous, toxic or dangerous to the public health as provided herein not labelled as required by the regulations of said department, shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.

Section 2. This act shall take effect on January first, nineteen hundred and forty-seven.

Approved June 11, 1946.