EPA Considers New Pesticide Limits on Food Crops
Published Date: 6/15/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The EPA just announced new requests to change rules about pesticide leftovers on foods like fruits and veggies. Farmers, food makers, and shoppers should know these changes could affect what’s allowed on their produce. You’ve got until July 15, 2026, to share your thoughts before any decisions are made—so don’t miss out!
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 8 mixed.
Cymoxanil tolerance changes
IR-4 asked the EPA to remove existing cymoxanil tolerances for cilantro leaves (19 ppm), leafy greens subgroup 4A (19 ppm), leaf petioles subgroup 4B (6.0 ppm), potato (0.5 ppm), and vegetable fruiting group 8-10B (0.2 ppm). IR-4 also asked to establish cymoxanil tolerances for many commodities including arugula (19 ppm), mango (0.02 ppm), and others at the ppm levels listed in the petition.
Famoxadone tolerance updates
IR-4 asked the EPA to remove some established famoxadone tolerances (for example, cilantro leaves at 25 ppm and tomato at 1.0 ppm) and to establish tolerances for other commodities, including arugula (25 ppm), brassica leafy greens subgroup 4-16B (40 ppm), mango (0.9 ppm), and a regional tolerance for succulent shelled beans east of the Rocky Mountains at 0.15 ppm.
Fenpropathrin tolerance for food handling uses
Valent BioSciences requested a tolerance for the insecticide fenpropathrin in or on all food/feed items at 0.9 ppm when used in food/feed handling establishments or as a wide-area mosquito adulticide. The petition identifies LC-MS/MS as the measurement method.
Abamectin tolerance for handling uses
Valent BioSciences requested a tolerance for the insecticide abamectin in or on all food/feed items at 0.1 ppm when used in food/feed handling establishments or as a wide-area mosquito adulticide. The petition identifies LC-MS/MS as the method to measure residues.
Public comment window open
The EPA is asking the public to comment on petitions asking to set or change pesticide residue rules on foods. Comments must be received on or before July 15, 2026, and EPA will consider those comments before deciding what action to take.
Import tolerance for trifloxystrobin on avocado
Bayer requested an import tolerance for the fungicide trifloxystrobin on avocado at 0.5 ppm in 40 CFR part 180. The petition identifies an analytical method (LC/MS-MS) used to measure trifloxystrobin residues.
Afidopyropen tolerance increase for oranges
BASF asked EPA to increase the afidopyropen tolerance for Orange subgroup 10-10A from 0.15 ppm to 0.3 ppm in 40 CFR part 180.700. The petition states existing analytical methods are sufficient for enforcement.
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) inert exemption request
Gaylord Chemical Company asked EPA to exempt dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, CAS 67-68-5) from the requirement of a tolerance when used as an inert ingredient (solvent/cosolvent) in pesticide formulations applied to crops pre- and post-harvest, to animals, and in antimicrobial formulations on food-contact surfaces. The petitioner stated no analytical method is needed for an exemption.
Polymer inert-ingredient exemption request
A petitioner (Clariant via Spring Regulatory Sciences) requested an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for a specific polymer (CAS 1186225-21-7, number average molecular weight 3250 daltons) when used as an inert ingredient in pesticide formulations. The petitioner stated no analytical method is needed for an exemption.
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