Insecticides

Chemical agents used to kill insects that attack crops, stored foods, and livestock. They protect yields and stored commodities but leave residues that can persist into food, so regulators set maximum residue limits and require pre-harvest intervals between last application and harvest. Resistance management and integrated pest management aim to keep their use effective while minimizing residues and environmental harm. Because some insecticides also affect pollinators and aquatic life, their approval weighs food-production benefits against wider ecological risks. Empty containers and obsolete stocks must be disposed of through approved hazardous-waste routes.