EPA Establishes Safe Limits for Pyriofenone on Produce
Published Date: 1/14/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA just set safe limits for pyriofenone pesticide residues on apples, berries, and cherries, helping farmers and food makers know the rules. These new limits start January 14, 2026, and anyone who disagrees has until March 16, 2026, to speak up. This move keeps our food safe without slowing down farming or food production.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New pyriofenone residue limits
EPA established legal residue limits for pyriofenone on specific commodities effective January 14, 2026: apple at 0.3 ppm; apple, wet pomace at 0.5 ppm; berry, low growing, subgroup 13-07G (except cranberry) at 2.0 ppm; and cherry subgroup 12-12A at 1.5 ppm. The rule notes it applies to agricultural producers, food manufacturers, and pesticide manufacturers (NAICS 111, 311, 32532).
EPA finds tolerances safe for consumers
EPA concluded there is a reasonable certainty of no harm from aggregate pyriofenone residues to the general population and to infants and children, and classified pyriofenone as "Not Likely to Be Carcinogenic to Humans." EPA's chronic assessment indicates children 1-2 years old would use 9.2% of the chronic population-adjusted dose (cPAD).
Children's safety factor set to 1X
EPA continued its determination to reduce the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) safety factor for infants and children from the default 10X to 1X for pyriofenone, based on reliable data cited by the Agency. This reduction is part of EPA's calculation of safe exposure levels for children.
Trade and exporters allowed adjustment time
For tolerance actions that lower or revoke existing tolerances, EPA will set an expiration date six months after publication to allow exporters affected by World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) requirements time to adapt. The rule notes Codex MRLs differ for low-growing berries and references a petitioner request to align with a Japanese MRL for strawberries.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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