EPA Frees Up Silly-Sounding Chemical from Food Safety Limits
Published Date: 3/25/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA just made it official: dimethylpolysiloxane, a chemical used in some pesticides, no longer needs a safety limit on food or feed when used properly. This change helps farmers, food makers, and pesticide companies by cutting red tape and speeding up product approvals. The new rule kicks in on March 25, 2026, with a chance to raise concerns by May 26, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Tolerance Exemption for Inert Ingredient
The EPA exempted methyl end-capped polydimethylsiloxane (dimethylpolysiloxane, CAS 63148-62-9) from the requirement to set a tolerance (a numerical safety limit) when it is used as an inert ingredient in pesticide formulations applied according to the exemption. This eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible residue level on food or feed for that substance, which the EPA says will cut regulatory red tape and speed product approvals for farmers, food makers, and pesticide manufacturers.
Lowered Molecular-Weight Threshold
The rule revises Table 1 to 40 CFR 180.960 to change the minimum number average molecular weight for dimethylpolysiloxane from 6,800 amu to 1,200 amu. This numeric change allows dimethylpolysiloxane formulations with a minimum average molecular weight of 1,200 Daltons to qualify for the exemption when used as an inert ingredient.
No Analytical Enforcement Method Required
Because EPA is establishing an exemption without any numerical tolerance, the Agency states that an analytical method for enforcement is not required. That means laboratories and regulated parties will not have a required test method to measure a numeric residue limit for this substance under this exemption.
EPA Safety Finding for Consumers
EPA concluded there is a reasonable certainty of no harm to the U.S. population, including infants and children, from aggregate exposure to methyl end-capped polydimethylsiloxane as used under this exemption. The Agency found the polymer meets low-risk criteria and determined a tolerance is not necessary.
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