EPA Sets Permethrin Limits for Dragon Fruit and Arugula—Hungry Yet?
Published Date: 1/14/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA just set new safety limits for permethrin pesticide residues on dragon fruit, certain types of corn, and leafy greens like arugula. Farmers, food makers, and pesticide companies should take note because these changes start January 14, 2026. If anyone wants to challenge the rule, they have until March 16, 2026, to speak up—no extra costs announced, just clearer rules to keep food safe!
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
EPA finds tolerances safe; children's safety factor set at 1X
EPA concluded there is a reasonable certainty of no harm to the general population and to infants and children from the established permethrin tolerances. The Agency continues to apply a reduced Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) safety factor of 1X rather than the default 10X and found no cumulative risks of concern for pyrethroids/pyrethrins.
New permethrin limits on specific crops
EPA established legal limits (tolerances) for permethrin residues on several crops effective January 14, 2026. The rule sets arugula at 50 parts per million (ppm), garden cress at 50 ppm, upland cress at 50 ppm, dragon fruit at 3 ppm, field corn subgroup 15-22C at 0.05 ppm, leafy greens subgroup 4-16A at 50 ppm, and sweet corn subgroup 15-22D at 0.1 ppm.
Dragon fruit tolerance set higher than requested
EPA established the dragon fruit (pitaya) permethrin tolerance at 3 ppm rather than the 1.5 ppm requested by the petitioner. The 3 ppm value is based on the OECD per-trial average MRL calculation.
Leafy greens tolerances increased and new crop listings
EPA converted crop groups and raised the tolerance level for leafy greens: the prior leafy greens subgroup 4A tolerance of 20 ppm is replaced by a 50 ppm tolerance for leafy greens subgroup 4-16A. EPA also established individual tolerances of 50 ppm for arugula, garden cress, and upland cress as part of the conversion.
Removal of some existing permethrin tolerances
As of January 14, 2026, EPA removes certain previously listed tolerances from 40 CFR 180.378. The rule removes tolerances for corn, field, grain at 0.05 ppm; corn, pop, grain at 0.05 ppm; leafy greens subgroup 4A at 20 ppm; lettuce, head at 20 ppm; spinach at 20 ppm; and corn, sweet, kernel plus cob with husks removed at 0.10 ppm.
U.S. tolerances differ from international Codex limits
EPA notes that U.S. tolerances are harmonized with Canada and Codex where feasible but may differ when U.S. field trial data require higher or lower limits. For example, EPA sets a tolerance for corn grain at 0.05 ppm while Codex lists 2 ppm for the same commodity.
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