EPA Proposes Revoking Most Chlorpyrifos Food Tolerances

The rule would reduce exposure to the harmful pesticide, boosting public health protection.

• By Robert Yaniz Jr.
• Dec 04, 2024

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced a proposed rule to revoke nearly all food tolerances for the pesticide chlorpyrifos, which defines the acceptable levels of pesticide residue on food. This action follows a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to reinstate all chlorpyrifos tolerances in 2023, reversing an earlier EPA rule.

The proposed changes would eliminate all chlorpyrifos tolerances except for 11 specified food uses on crops such as soybeans, strawberries, and sugar beets, as outlined in a 2020 review. The EPA estimates that maintaining only these limited uses could reduce chlorpyrifos applications in the U.S. by 70 percent annually.

“EPA continues to prioritize the health of children,” Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff said in a statement. “This proposed rule is a critical step forward as we work to reduce chlorpyrifos in or on food and to better protect people, including infants and children, from exposure to chemicals that are harmful to human health.”

Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate insecticide, has been widely used in agriculture for decades but has raised significant health concerns. Research links chlorpyrifos exposure to neurological effects, including developmental delays in children and potential risks to pregnant women.

The EPA had previously banned all chlorpyrifos tolerances in 2021 in response to an order from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. However, the Eighth Circuit overturned this decision, citing procedural issues.

Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted for 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register, under docket ID EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0431. The EPA continues its registration review of chlorpyrifos, with a final interim decision expected in 2026. The prepublication version of the Federal Register notice is available online for more information.