Pesticide Tolerance; Exemptions, Petitions, Revocations, etc.: Ethephon

What it does

• •Establishes a pesticide tolerance (maximum permissible residue level) of 0.02 parts per million (ppm) for ethephon in or on figs.
• •Makes this tolerance effective immediately as of November 13, 2026.
• •Incorporates and references EPA's previous risk assessments for ethephon from prior tolerance rulemakings and registration review decisions.

Why it matters

• •The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires EPA to establish tolerances only if it determines they are 'safe'—meaning there is reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure including dietary and drinking water exposures, with special consideration for infants and children.
• •EPA concluded based on available scientific data that the ethephon tolerance for figs meets the safety standard and does not pose unreasonable risk to human health.

Who is affected

• •Agricultural producers growing figs and using ethephon as a plant growth regulator.
• •Food manufacturers processing figs for consumption.
• •Pesticide manufacturers producing ethephon products.

What happens next

Any person may file a written objection or request a hearing on this regulation by January 12, 2027, following procedures in 40 CFR part 178 and identifying docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2025-0148.