EPA Updates Safe Pesticide Levels on Food Like Diphenylamine
Published Date: 2/20/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA is updating rules about how much of certain pesticides, like diphenylamine, can safely stay on our food. Farmers, food makers, and pesticide companies need to know these changes start February 20, 2026, and they have until April 21, 2026, to raise any concerns. These updates help keep our food safe without causing extra costs or delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
EPA finalizes food-safety findings
You eat food that may have small amounts of pesticide residue. On February 20, 2026, EPA finalized safety findings that the pesticide tolerances covered by this rule meet the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act safety standard and are considered "safe" for aggregate exposure.
New ppm limits for many commodities
If you grow, process, or make food, EPA set or revised specific pesticide residue limits (parts per million) for multiple active ingredients effective February 20, 2026. Examples in the rule include diphenylamine on apples at 10 ppm and apple, wet pomace at 30 ppm; diflubenzuron on mushroom at 8 ppm and cotton gin byproducts at 30 ppm; flutolanil peanut hay at 20 ppm; isoxaflutole grain aspirated fractions at 0.3 ppm; famoxadone on spinach at 50 ppm; aminopyralid corn, field, forage at 0.3 ppm; fenazaquin tea, dried at 10 ppm; and tembotrione corn, field, forage at 0.6 ppm.
Six‑month transition for lowered tolerances
If an existing tolerance is lowered or revoked by this rule, the prior tolerance remains in effect for six months after publication to give exporters in WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement member countries time to adapt. The six‑month interval starts from the date of publication of the final rule.
EPA says small entities won’t face significant costs
EPA certified under the Regulatory Flexibility Act that this action "will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities" and states the action "has no net burden on small entities subject to this rulemaking."
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-18317, Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States”
The purpose of this supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking is for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army ("the agencies") to supplement and seek additional comment on certain aspects of an earlier proposal, published on November 20, 2025, to revise the regulations defining the scope of waters federally covered under the Clean Water Act in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. As stated in the agencies' November 20, 2025 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the agencies intend for this rulemaking to provide greater regulatory certainty and increase Clean Water Act program predictability and consistency by clarifying the definition of "waters of the United States." After consideration of the public comments received on the NPRM, the agencies are issuing this notice to supplement the NPRM with additional regulatory options on certain aspects of the proposed rule.
2026-14112, Amendments and Nonconformance Penalties for Model Year 2027 and Later Heavy-Duty Highway Engines and Amendments to Inducement Provisions for SCR-Equipped Diesel Engines
Starting with model year 2027, the EPA is updating rules for big truck engines to make sure they last longer and pollute less. They’re also letting engine makers pay penalties if their engines don’t meet standards, and tightening rules for special pollution-control systems on diesel engines. These changes affect truck and engine makers and kick in soon, with public feedback due by August 29, 2026.
2026-13667, Minor New Source Review Program Air Permitting Public Participation Requirements for State Implementation Plans
The EPA wants to give states more freedom to decide how much public input is needed when approving small air pollution sources or changes. This means local air agencies can tailor public participation to fit their community’s needs while still protecting air quality. If you’re involved in air permits, watch for comment deadlines and possible virtual hearings this summer!
2026-13263, Revisions To Establish the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) for Public Water Systems
The EPA is rolling out the sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) to check for new, sneaky chemicals in public drinking water. Big water systems serving 3,300+ people and some smaller ones will test for 30 different contaminants, including certain PFAS and pesticides, to keep our water safe. Comments and feedback are open until late August 2026, and the EPA will host fun online meetings to chat about the plan!
2026-12927, U.S. Ecology Nevada, Inc. High Mercury Subcategory Wastes Land Disposal Restrictions Variance
The EPA is giving U.S. Ecology Nevada a special green light to handle and dispose of high-mercury waste a bit differently than usual. This means mercury waste treated in Pennsylvania can now be safely sent to U.S. Ecology’s Nevada site for disposal under new rules starting July 27, 2026. This change helps protect people and the environment while keeping mercury waste management efficient and cost-effective.
2026-11047, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants From Hazardous Waste Combustors: Residual Risk and Technology Review
The EPA just updated rules for places that burn hazardous waste, like incinerators and boilers, to keep the air safe and clean. They confirmed current standards work well but added new limits on harmful gases like hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen cyanide. These changes start June 3, 2026, and include easier electronic reporting and some new rules for startup and shutdown times—helping protect health without big costs.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-03368, Imidacloprid; Pesticide Tolerance(s)
The EPA just set a safe limit for imidacloprid pesticide residue on black pepper at 0.05 parts per million. This affects farmers, food makers, and pesticide companies who handle black pepper. The new rule kicks in on February 20, 2026, and anyone wanting to object has until April 21, 2026 to speak up.
Next: 2026-03375, Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Hilcorp Alaska, LLC Oil and Gas Activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska
Hilcorp Alaska got the green light to do oil and gas work in Cook Inlet from 2026 to 2031, even if it means accidentally disturbing some marine mammals. The new rules make sure they minimize harm, keep an eye on the animals, and report what they find. This plan balances energy work with protecting Alaska’s sea creatures over the next five years.