EPA Sets New Glufosinate Limits for Rice and Tea Safety
Published Date: 11/20/2025
Rule
Summary
The EPA just updated the rules for how much glufosinate pesticide can be left on rice and tea. Farmers, food makers, and pesticide companies need to know these new limits, which start right away on November 20, 2025. If anyone wants to challenge the changes, they have until January 20, 2026, to speak up—no extra costs or delays expected!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
New glufosinate limits for rice & tea
EPA established and revised legal limits (tolerances) for glufosinate residues on rice and tea effective November 20, 2025. The rule sets rice, grain tolerances at 0.9 ppm (Rice, grain \1\) and 1.0 ppm (Rice, grain \2\), rice hull at 2.0 ppm, tea (dried) at 0.5 ppm, instant tea at 0.09 ppm, and plucked tea leaves at 0.05 ppm; the rule also notes there are no U.S. registrations as of November 20, 2025 and that the Rice, grain \2\ tolerance expires May 20, 2025.
EPA: dietary exposures below concern
EPA evaluated dietary exposure and found acute dietary risks are 26% of the acute population-adjusted dose (aPAD) for females ages 13–49, and chronic dietary risks are 66% of the chronic population-adjusted dose (cPAD) for all infants. EPA determined these exposure estimates are below its levels of concern for this final tolerance action.
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