For IPM Coordinators, administrators and pest control applicators one of the most confusing aspects of the Texas school IPM regulations is the terminology used in pesticide classification. Under Section 595.11, the term used is Green list, Yellow list, and Red list products. For most people when they see the word list, they assume that there is a list out there for them to find which products fall under the green, yellow, or red category.
You can stop your searching. Currently there is no official list of green, yellow, or red list products. However, there are classifications under the green category that you can use to determine if a product is green or not. Under Section 595.11 (h) (1) Green List Products. All products must be one of the following: inorganic pesticides (i.e., boric acid, disodium octoborate tetrahydrate, silica gels, diatomaceous earth); insect growth regulators; insect and rodent baits in tamper-resistant containers or for crack and crevice placement only; microbe-based insecticides; botanical insecticides (not including synthetic pyrethroids) containing not more than 5.0% synergists; biological (living) control agents, pesticidal soap and natural and synthetic horticultural oils. The preceding description gives you a general guideline as to what is acceptable Green product based on the products active ingredient. The majority of these products carry a Caution Signal word; however, occasionally some of the botanicals carry a Warning signal word due to concentration levels.
The main difference between Green products and Yellow and Red List Products is the active ingredients and the signal words. Yellow products are generally synthetic and carry a signal word of Caution. Red List Products carry a Warning or Danger signal word. Under the current regulations, most herbicides fall under the Yellow or Red List category.