List of U.S. pesticide tolerances
The presence of pesticide chemical residues in foods, such as spices, is regulated under section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended (FFDCA). The permissible level of pesticide chemical residue allowed in or on foods or feed is governed by either a pesticide tolerance or an exemption from tolerance. If a food contains a pesticide residue for which no tolerance or exemption from tolerance has been established, it is adulterated within the meaning of section 402 of the FFDCA and is subject to enforcement action. ASTA has published a list of U.S. pesticide tolerances that are established for spices and herbs by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under 40CFR180. This list is intended to facilitate compliance with U.S. tolerances.
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Related Resources
2022 Technical Presentation: Panel on Testing and Screening for Pesticide Residues in Spices
This panel at the ASTA 2022 Regulatory Workshop on September 12, 2022, engaged in an insightful discussion regarding how and what to test for with respect to pesticide residues in spices, including an overview of compliance trends and pesticide testing method considerations. Moderator by Ben Howard of Certified Laboratories, joined by panelists, Ronald Stakland of FoodChain ID, John Reuther of Eurofins and Jon Wong with FDA.
ASTA Petition Proposing Import Tolerances for Cypermethrin for Various Spices
In June 2022, ASTA submitted a petition to EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs to establish import tolerances for cypermethrin in/on fruits and berries spices at 0.2 ppm, and roots and rhizomes spices at 0.5 ppm. The tolerances were established on October 4, 2023.
