EPA Updates Tolerances for Maleic Hydrazide and Other Pesticides on Food
Published Date: 2/27/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA is updating rules about how much of certain pesticides, like Maleic Hydrazide, can safely stay on our food. Farmers, food makers, and pesticide companies need to know these changes start February 27, 2026, and some old rules are being cleaned up. If anyone disagrees, they have until April 28, 2026, to speak up—no extra costs expected, just clearer safety limits!
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Maleic Hydrazide Tolerance Exemption
EPA revoked all commodity-specific tolerances for maleic hydrazide and established an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance at new 40 CFR 180.1349, effective February 27, 2026. EPA also found maleic hydrazide low in toxicity, assessed the hydrazine impurity at a 15 parts per million (ppm) limit, and concluded the exemption is safe for the general population including infants and children.
Pyrazon Import Tolerances Expire
EPA will revoke pyrazon tolerances but is keeping the tolerances in the Code of Federal Regulations for import purposes until an expiration date of August 26, 2026 to allow treated commodities to clear trade channels. The rule is effective February 27, 2026 and the listed pyrazon tolerance values in the rule include the note that there are no U.S. registrations and the tolerances expire on August 26, 2026.
Quinclorac Tolerance Reductions
EPA is decreasing quinclorac tolerances for several livestock commodities: poultry meat byproducts from 0.1 to 0.05 ppm, hog fat from 0.7 to 0.05 ppm, and hog meat byproducts from 1.5 to 0.05 ppm, effective February 27, 2026. EPA is also establishing expiration dates of August 26, 2026 for certain quinclorac tolerances and adding a footnote for barley grain to indicate no U.S. registrations.
Imazapyr Kidney Tolerance Increase
EPA is finalizing increased tolerances for imazapyr residues in kidney commodities: Cattle, goat, horse, and sheep kidney tolerances are finalized at 0.3 ppm (changed from 0.20 ppm in the proposal), effective February 27, 2026. EPA notes the change reflects OECD rounding class practice.
Removal of Expired Pesticide Tolerances
EPA is removing from the CFR the tolerances that have already expired for several pesticides, including endosulfan, methidathion, pendimethalin (Bermuda grass entries), boscalid (Endive, Belgian), spiromesifen (soybean entries), and mandipropamid (Basil, dried), effective February 27, 2026. Where EPA revokes tolerances, it often established an August 26, 2026 expiration date to allow trade adaptation.
Effective Date and Objection Deadline
The final rule is effective on February 27, 2026. Any objections and requests for hearings must be filed and received by the EPA Hearing Clerk on or before April 28, 2026, in accordance with 40 CFR part 178.
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