Oh my God! Does mosquito repellent actually contain pesticides? ! Do you still dare to use it?

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In summer, mosquito repellent products to prevent bites are essential items in many households. There is a wide variety of mosquito repellent products on the market, many of which claim to be \"100% natural, made from plant extracts, free of chemical synthetics, and non-irritating.\" But are they truly safe? Is the mosquito-repelling effect as good as advertised? Recently, the Shanghai Consumer Protection Commission held a public hearing regarding 21 products claiming to have mosquito-repellent properties. It was found that these products lacked pesticide registration certificates, had no test reports indicating their effective duration of mosquito repellent action, and used the claim of being suitable for infants and pregnant women as a marketing tactic – all of which represent major issues in the mosquito repellent market. Do mosquito repellents need a pesticide registration certificate? Liu Hongxia, an associate technician at the Institute of Infectious Disease Control of the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the \"Regulations on Pesticide Registration\" implemented since June 1, 2017, stipulate that pesticides produced, sold, and used within China for the prevention and control of harmful organisms such as mosquitoes and flies must have a pesticide registration certificate, an approval number for pesticide production, and a product standard number. Liu Hongxia said that the main mosquito repellent products available on the market are all pesticides; one type is of plant origin and natural, while the other type is chemically synthesized and can repel mosquitoes. “However, there’s no need to worry. Mosquito repellents available on the market today, as long as they are produced by reputable manufacturers, have their pesticide content strictly controlled during production, so they will not have an impact on consumers’ daily lives. ”Liu Hongxia said that, of course, some people should not use mosquito repellent, such as pregnant women, infants, and those who are prone to allergies. At the same time, avoid frequent contact with mosquito repellent, and certainly do not use it for extended periods of time. Being listed as a \"pesticide\" does not mean that mosquito repellent is dangerous; on the contrary, it indicates that strict quality controls have been applied. A mosquito repellent that can be used with confidence is first and foremost a \"qualified pesticide\". To obtain a \"pesticide registration certificate,\" mosquito repellent must pass six strict tests, including acute oral toxicity, acute dermal toxicity, acute inhalation toxicity, eye irritation, repeated skin irritation, and sensitization. However, the results of the city’s consumer protection agency’s investigation into mosquito repellents showed that only 7 products – Radar, Lizhi, Sakura no Hana, Weibao, Zichu, Baobao Jinshui, and Lanju Erbaojian – had pesticide registration numbers or production standard document numbers, as well as information regarding the duration of mosquito repellent effect along with relevant test reports. The other 14 products did not provide any pesticide registration documents or related test reports at the time of the investigation. Obtaining a \"pesticide license\" also means that the \"effectiveness\" is guaranteed. According to Liu Hongxia, a senior technician at the Institute of Infectious Disease Control of the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, under professional efficacy testing, products that provide mosquito protection for more than 4 hours are considered qualified, while those offering protection for over 6 hours are classified as Grade A products. However, among the enterprises without a \"pesticide license,\" another 12 failed to provide proof of the effectiveness of their mosquito repellents; instead, they resorted to exaggerated claims such as claiming that their products could repel mosquitoes for 8 hours or even 30 days, in an attempt to attract attention and mislead consumers.