EPA Refines Tolerances for Pesticides Like Terbacil on Crops
Published Date: 2/20/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA just updated rules for certain pesticides like Terbacil to keep our food safe and farms running smoothly. If you grow crops, raise animals, make food, or produce pesticides, these changes affect you starting February 20, 2026. You’ve got until April 21, 2026, to raise any concerns, but no big costs or delays are expected—just smarter, safer pesticide rules!
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
Widespread tolerance updates and rounding
EPA finalized changes that revise tolerance expressions, update commodity definitions, and modify tolerance values for numerous pesticides to reflect OECD rounding class practice. These regulatory text changes apply to pesticides listed in Unit III (for example Terbacil, Metolachlor, Cyfluthrin, etc.) and are effective February 20, 2026.
Tomato tolerance lowered for etridiazole
EPA lowered the tolerance for etridiazole on tomatoes from 0.15 parts per million (ppm) to 0.1 ppm. The prior 0.15 ppm tolerance is given an expiration date of August 19, 2026 to allow adjustment.
New livestock tolerances for pinoxaden
EPA is establishing new tolerances for pinoxaden in livestock commodities (including goat, hog, horse, and sheep fat, meat, and meat byproducts) because during registration review the Agency determined tolerances were needed to cover potential residues from treated feed items at the same level as current cattle tolerances.
Who this rule affects and deadlines
You are affected if you are an agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. The rule is effective February 20, 2026, and objections or hearing requests must be filed and received by April 21, 2026 following 40 CFR part 178 instructions.
EPA certification on small-entity economic impact
EPA certified under the Regulatory Flexibility Act that this action will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. EPA considered public comments about possible small-scale farmer costs but did not change its determination.
180-day transition for lowered/revoked tolerances
For tolerances that are lowered or revoked, EPA set an expiration date for the prior tolerance of 180 days after publication (i.e., August 19, 2026) to allow producers in exporting members of the World Trade Organization's SPS Agreement time to adapt to the new requirements.
Cyproconazole liver tolerance rounding change
EPA revised cyproconazole tolerances for cattle, goat, horse, and sheep liver from 0.50 ppm to 0.5 ppm to reflect OECD rounding class practice; this change is finalized in 40 CFR 180.485 paragraph (a)(3).
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