Pesticides, including insecticides, are by definition toxic and can cause adverse effects to human health and environment. Therefore, exposures to humans and other non-target organisms should be kept as low as possible. The sound management of pesticides throughout their life cycle is necessary to reduce exposures and minimize adverse effects. Life-cycle management of pesticides involves the proper handling, supply, transport, storage, application, use, disposal and waste management. The sound management of public health pesticides is a growing challenge with the decentralization of health systems.

WHO Pesticides Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES) Guidelines promote the safe and effective use of pesticides and provide practical information on the management and judicious use of public health pesticides to protect the applicators, the public and the environment. The following guidelines are available on sound management of public health pesticides:

• Guidelines for testing mosquito adulticides for indoor residual spraying and treatment of mosquito nets
• Guidelines for laboratory and field testing of mosquito larvicides
• Guidelines for laboratory and field testing of long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets
• Generic risk assessment model for insecticide treatment of mosquito nets and their subsequent use
• Generic risk assessment model for indoor residual spraying of insecticides
• Generic risk assessment model for insecticides used for larviciding
• Generic risk assessment model for indoor and outdoor space spraying of insecticides
• Field testing and evaluation of insecticides for indoor residual spraying against Chagas vectors

Lutte contre les Vecteurs de Paludisme - Critères eo Procédures de Prise de Décisions pour une Utilisation Raisonée des Insecticides, WHO/WHOPES, 2004

Lucha antivectorial para el Control del Paludismo - Criterios para guiar la Toma de Decisiones y Procedimientos para el uso sensato de Insecticidas, WHO/WHOPES, 2004

Decision-making for the Judicious Use of Insecticides - Participant's Guide, WHO/WHOPES, 2004

Decision-making for the Judicious Use of Insecticides - Facilitator's Guide, WHO/WHOPES, 2004

Código Internacional de Conducta para la Distribución y Utilización de Plaguicidas, FAO, 2003

Guidelines on the Management of Public Health Pesticides, WHO/WHOPES, 2003

Principes directeurs pour la Gestion des Pesticides Utilises en Sante Publique, WHO/WHOPES, 2003

Proyecto - Directrices sobre la Gestión de los Plaguicidas para la Salud Pública, WHO/WHOPES, 2003

Guidelines for the Purchase of Public Health Pesticides, WHO/WHOPES, 2000