The hard freeze has banished mosquitoes from Minnesota, but when they come back, you may find new labels on your bug repellent designed to give you the same standardized information you find on a bottle of sunscreen.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will ask insect repellent manufacturers to add a label to their products telling consumers how often the repellent should be applied.
Last week, the EPA released a sample of the graphic which shows the type of insect the product is meant to repel and for how long the product is effective. In a survey conducted last year, the EPA found the labels may be beneficial to those who forget the product needs to be reapplied.
The agency is seeking consumer comment on the graphic until March 6, 2014. The EPA said it wants to know if the graphic would help consumers choose a repellent and if it is easy to understand.
The EPA said the use of the graphic by the manufacturers of insect repellent will be voluntary.
Image: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
