Pesticide formulation

The biological activity of a pesticide, be it chemical or biological in nature, is determined by its active
ingredient (AI - also called the active substance). Pesticide products very rarely consist of pure technical
material. The AI is usually formulated with other materials and this is the product as sold, but it may be
further diluted in use. Formulations improves the properties of a chemical for handling, storage, application
and may substantially influence effectiveness and safety.[1]

Formulation terminology follows a 2-letter convention: (e.g. GR: granules) listed by CropLife International
(formerly GIFAP then GCPF) in the Catalogue of Pesticide Formulation Types (Monograph 2); see:
download page (https://web.archive.org/web/20130621162748/http://www.croplife.org/view_document.as
px?docId=1281). Some manufacturers do not follow these industry standards, which can cause confusion
for users.

Water-miscible formulations
By far the most frequently used
products are formulations for mixing
with water then applying as sprays.
Water miscible, older formulations
include:

EC Emulsifiable concentrate
WP Wettable powder
SL Soluble (liquid) concentrate
SP Soluble powder

Newer, non-powdery formulations

with reduced or no use of hazardous solvents and improved stability include:

SC Suspension concentrate
CS Capsule suspensions
WG Water dispersible granules

Other formulations
Other common formulations include granules (GR) and dusts (DP), although for improved safety the latter
have been replaced by microgranules (MG e.g. for rice farmers in Japan). Specialist formulations are
available for ultra-low volume spraying, fogging, fumigation, etc. Very occasionally, some pesticides (e.g.
malathion) may be sold as technical material (TC - which is mostly AI, but also contains small quantities of,
usually non-active, by-products of the manufacturing process).

A particularly efficient form of pesticide dose transfer is seed treatment and specific formulations have been
developed for this purpose. A number of pesticide bait formulations are available for rodent pest control,
etc.
In reality many formulation codes are used: AB, AE, AL, AP, BB, BR, CB, CF, CG, CL, CP, CS, DC,
DL, DP, DS, DT, EC, ED, EG, EO, ES, EW, FD, FG, FK, FP, FR, FS, FT, FU, FW, GA, GB, GE, GF,
GG, GL, GP, GR, GS, GW, HN, KK, KL, KN, KP, LA, LS, LV, MC, ME, MG, MV, OD, OF, OL, OP,
PA, PB, PC, PO, PR, PS, RB, SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SG, SL, SO, SP, SS, ST, SU, TB, TC, TK, TP, UL,
VP, WG, WP, WS, WT, XX, ZC, ZE and ZW.[2]

See also
Formulations
Formulation science
Pharmaceutical formulation
Galenic formulation

References
1. Knowles, DA (1998) Chemistry and technology of agricultural formulations. Kluwer
Academic, London
2. Formulation Codes (http://www.dropdata.org/IPARC_guide/Formulation_codes.pdf) from
dropdata.org, run by iparc.org.uk, The International Pesticide Application Research
Consortium (IPARC), Department of Biology, Imperial College, London

Further reading
Burges, H.D. (ed.) (1998) Formulation of Microbial Biopesticides, beneficial microorganisms,
nematodes and seed treatments. Kluwer Academic Press, 412 pp.

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