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Pesticide Tolerances and Exemptions1
M. A. Mossler and F. M. Fishel2When pesticide manufacturers want to register a pesticide for use on food crops, a tolerance must be obtained from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Many pesticides have tolerances, which are defined as the amount of pesticide that can legally exist in a specific commodity. Tolerances can be obtained for a single food item, such as tomato, or for a group, such as the fruiting vegetables, which includes eggplant, pepper, and tomato. If the pesticide does not elicit adverse effects in a battery of tests, it may receive issuance from the EPA of an exemption from the requirement of tolerance. EPA regulations for both tolerances and exemptions are found in The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Part 180 (http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/cfr.htm ).
Table 1 presents exemptions from the requirement of tolerance for pesticides registered for use in Florida. Although these pesticides are exempted from the requirement of tolerance, some are registered for use on just a few food crops (e.g. imazamox) while others can be used on many if not all food crops (e.g. ferric phosphate). The common name of the pesticide, its most common trade name (although others may exist), and pesticide type are listed alphabetically. The list is current as of March, 2006.
There are also live organisms that are used as pesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Beauveria bassiana, phage (bacteria-killing viruses), and caterpillar-selective viruses. All of these are exempt from requirement of tolerance as well.
Florida growers sell to foreign markets, and often, the tolerance is not the same between the United States and the importing country. If you need assistance in comparing tolerances to those for other countries, please contact the UF/IFAS Pesticide Information Office at 352 392-4721, or email: plantdoc@ufl.edu .
Tables
Table 1. Exemptions from the requirement of tolerance for pesticides registered for use in Florida.
Common Name
Trade Name
Pesticide Type
Azadirachtin
Azatin® Insecticide/Miticide Boric acid
Prev-Am® Insecticide/Miticide Capsaicin
Shotgun® Animal feeding repellent Copper
Kocide® Fungicide Ferric phosphate
Sluggo® Mollusicide Kaolin
Surround® Insecticide/Fungicide Imazamox
Raptor® Herbicide MCDS
Enquik® Herbicide Methyl anthranilate
Rejex-It® Bird feeding repellent Methoprene
Extinguish® Insecticide Oil
Sunspray® Insecticide/Miticide Pelargonic acid
Scythe® Herbicide Pheromones (arthropod & plant)
Checkmate® Attractants Potassium bicarbonate
Kaligreen® Fungicide Potassium phosphite
K-phite® Fungicide Pyrethrin +/- rotenone or PBO
Pyrellin® Insecticide Soap
M-Pede® Insecticide/Miticide Sulfur
Kumulus® Miticide/Fungicide
Footnotes
1. This document is PI-118, one of a series of the Pesticide Information Office, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date April 2006. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. Mark A. Mossler, doctor of plant medicine, Pesticide Information Office, Agronomy Department; Frederick M. Fishel, associate professor, Agronomy Department, and Director, Pesticide Information Office; Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.
The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this publication does not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition. Use pesticides safely. Read and follow directions on the manufacturer's label.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.