Permethrin on Pepper Gets EPA's Okay: Spice Safe-ish
Published Date: 8/3/2026
Rule
Summary
This regulation establishes a tolerance for residues of permethrin (CASRN 52645-53-1) in or on the food and feed commodity of black pepper at 0.1 parts per million (ppm). Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), the American Spice Trade Association, Inc., submitted a petition to EPA requesting that EPA establish a maximum permissible level for residues of this pesticide in or on the identified commodity.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Harmonizes U.S. Tolerance with EU/Canada
EPA set the U.S. tolerance at 0.1 ppm to match the European Union and Canada for permethrin on black pepper, which the rule says will promote global harmonization and help facilitate trade. Codex has a different MRL of 0.05 ppm, and EPA found harmonization with Codex was not possible.
0.1 ppm Permethrin Tolerance on Black Pepper
EPA is establishing a legal limit (tolerance) for permethrin residues on black pepper at 0.1 parts per million (ppm), effective August 3, 2026. The rule notes there are no U.S. registrations for use of permethrin on black pepper as of August 3, 2026, and objections or hearing requests must be filed by October 2, 2026.
EPA Safety Finding and Child Exposure Numbers
EPA assessed risks and concluded the 0.1 ppm tolerance is safe with a reasonable certainty of no harm. The highest acute dietary exposure estimate was 4.3% of the acute population-adjusted dose (aPAD) for children aged 3–5 at the 99.9th percentile, and the highest chronic dietary estimate was 0.000780 mg/kg/day for children aged 1–2.
Analytical Methods and Detection Limits
EPA says adequate enforcement methods exist: a GC/ECD method for plant matrices with a limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.05 ppm per isomer and a livestock matrix method with LOQ of 0.01 ppm per isomer. FDA multiresidue methods also recover permethrin.
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