EPA Greenlights Pesticide for Dragon Fruit Delights
Published Date: 2/20/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA just set safe limits for a pesticide called pydiflumetofen on coffee beans and dragon fruit, thanks to a request from Syngenta. This rule kicks in on February 20, 2026, and affects farmers, food makers, and pesticide companies. If anyone wants to challenge it, they have until April 21, 2026, to speak up—no extra costs or delays expected!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Pesticide tolerances set for coffee and dragon fruit
EPA established legal limits for the pesticide pydiflumetofen on coffee, green bean at 0.2 parts per million (ppm), and on dragon fruit at 0.9 ppm. The rule is effective February 20, 2026, and the regulatory text notes there is no U.S. registration for use on these commodities as of that date.
Which businesses may be affected
EPA identifies potentially affected entities as agricultural producers, food manufacturers, and pesticide manufacturers and lists NAICS codes including crop production (111), food manufacturing (311), and pesticide manufacturing (32532). These groups may need to note the added tolerances when handling, processing, or trading the listed commodities.
EPA finds exposures below safety thresholds
EPA concluded these tolerances are safe and that acute dietary exposure to pydiflumetofen uses 9.1% of the acute population-adjusted dose (aPAD) for children 3–5 years old and chronic exposure uses 29% of the chronic PAD (cPAD) for children 1–2 years old. EPA also reported short-term aggregate margins of exposure (MOEs) of 350 for adults, 550 for children 6–<11, and 2400 for children 11–<16, where EPA's level of concern is a MOE of 100 or below.
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
2026-13667, 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.
2026-10641, Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals From Electric Utilities; Federal CCR Permit Program; Reopening of Comment Period
The EPA is reopening the comment period until June 29, 2026, for its proposed rule to create a federal permit program for safely disposing of coal ash from power plants. This affects electric utilities that handle coal waste and aims to improve environmental safety while possibly impacting their costs. Now’s the time for everyone to share their thoughts and help shape the rules!
2026-10387, Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Reconsideration of Certain Regulatory Requirements Promulgated Under the Technology Transitions Provisions of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020
The EPA is updating rules to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), chemicals used in cooling systems like refrigerators and air conditioners. These changes affect businesses in refrigeration, supermarkets, semiconductor manufacturing, and more, allowing some older equipment made before 2025 to keep running. The new rules kick in on July 27, 2026, helping industries transition smoothly while cutting harmful emissions.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-03413, West Virginia Regulatory Program
West Virginia is updating its agreement with the federal government to keep managing coal mining and land cleanup on federal lands in the state. This change keeps things running smoothly under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, starting March 23, 2026. Coal miners, landowners, and local communities will see continued state oversight without new costs or delays.
Next: 2026-03422, Procedural Rules; Correction
The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission fixed two small but important mistakes in their procedural rules from January 2025. They corrected a typo changing 'sealing' to 'unsealing' and fixed a day of the week to match a date. These changes take effect on February 20, 2026, and help make sure everyone knows exactly how to handle filings and deadlines.