The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) authorizes US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) to establish pesticide tolerances, the legal limit for a pesticide chemical residue in or on a food. US EPA seeks to harmonize US tolerances with international standards whenever possible. In accordance with the FFDCA, US EPA is required to consider the international maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). US EPA may establish a tolerance at a level that differs from a Codex MRL; however US EPA must have a valid reason for doing so. For US growers that export their commodities overseas, it may help facilitate trade to certain countries if the US EPA establishes a tolerance to align with a MRL of a national authority other than Codex. Harmonization of MRLs is a complex issue and there are many factors that must be considered in order to align US tolerances with Codex MRLs.

US tolerance setting and alignment with Codex MRLs and other national authorities

246th National Meeting (2013)

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