FDA Probes Tiny Banned Pesticides Lingering in Your Groceries
Published Date: 10/8/2026
Notice
Summary
The FDA wants your thoughts on how they collect info about food products that might have tiny amounts of banned or changed pesticides. This affects farmers, food sellers, and anyone handling these foods, making sure safety rules keep up with new pesticide limits. You’ve got until December 7, 2026, to share your views—no cost, just your voice!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Show paperwork to avoid 'adulterated' findings
If EPA revokes, suspends, or lowers a pesticide tolerance, food that contains a residue within the former tolerance will not automatically be called "adulterated" if the responsible party can show FDA that the residue came from a lawful application. FDA cites section 408(l)(5) and expects firms to provide documentation such as packing codes, batch records, or inventory records to demonstrate the food was handled during acceptable timeframes.
Tolerance revocations take effect within 180 days
Under section 408(l)(2) of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, when EPA cancels a pesticide registration or modifies a tolerance because of dietary risks, the revocation or change must take effect no later than 180 days after the cancellation becomes effective or 180 days after the use becomes unlawful, whichever is later. FDA notes food lawfully treated may still be in the channels of trade when the revocation or change takes effect.
Estimated time burden to comply
FDA estimates that a typical respondent would spend about 3 hours to submit documentation to FDA and about 16 hours to develop a documentation process — a total of 19 hours per year in the agency's estimate. FDA expects a low number of submissions and used an estimate of one respondent making one submission per year.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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