EPA Greenlights Bug Killer on Chocolate Beans for Candy Lobby
Published Date: 8/20/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA just set a safe limit for cypermethrin pesticide residues on dried cacao beans, thanks to a request from the National Confectioners Association. This means farmers, food makers, and pesticide producers now have clear rules to follow starting August 20, 2026. If anyone wants to object or ask for a hearing, they must do so by October 19, 2026—so don’t wait!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Cypermethrin tolerance set for cacao
EPA established a legal residue tolerance of 0.05 parts per million (ppm) for cypermethrin on cacao, dried bean, effective August 20, 2026. EPA adopted 0.05 ppm instead of the petitioned 0.02 ppm to align with an established food handling tolerance and added the commodity under 40 CFR 180.418.
Children's safety factor set to 1X
As part of this rule, EPA determined that the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) safety factor for infants and children may be reduced to 1X for the cypermethrins because EPA found reliable data showing infants and children would be adequately protected. That determination is reflected in the Agency's risk assessment used to establish the tolerance.
Enforcement testing methods and detection limits
EPA states that adequate enforcement methods are available to measure cypermethrin residues: plant method (Method I) limit of detection (LOD) 0.01 ppm, and livestock method (Method II) LODs of 0.005 ppm in milk and 0.01 ppm in tissues. The methods are gas chromatographic with electron-capture detection and are not stereospecific.
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