Which federal law governs the establishment of pesticide tolerances for food and feed products?

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) is pivotal in establishing pesticide tolerances for food and feed products. This law requires that all pesticide residues on food and animal feed be regulated to ensure that the levels present pose no harm to consumers. Under this act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for setting tolerances, which are the maximum permissible levels of pesticide residues that can remain on or in food.

This rigorous review and tolerance-setting process underscore the importance of consumer safety and public health concerning pesticide usage in agriculture. The act also provides a framework for evaluating new pesticides and their associated risks, ensuring that they meet safety standards before being approved for use on food crops.

In contrast, the other laws mentioned, while related to pesticide regulation, focus on different aspects of pesticide management and safety. The Food Quality Protection Act specifically amended the FFDCA but is not the foundational law itself. The Pesticide Control Act serves to regulate the distribution and use of pesticides more broadly, while the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act primarily deals with improving the registration process for pesticides, not directly setting food tolerances. Thus, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is the central regulation relevant to pesticide tolerances.