Receipt of Pesticide Petitions Filed for Residues of Pesticide Chemicals in or on Various Commodities-March 2026

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Parts 174 and 180 [EPA-HQ-OPP-2026-0332; FRL-13201-03-OCSPP] Receipt of Pesticide Petitions Filed for Residues of Pesticide Chemicals in or on Various Commodities—March 2026 AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of filing of petitions and request for comment.

SUMMARY:

This document announces the Agency's receipt of and solicits public comment on initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities. The Agency is providing this notice in accordance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). EPA uses the month and year in the title to identify when the Agency compiled the petitions identified in this notice of filing. Unit II. of this document identifies certain petitions received in 2024 and 2025 that are currently being evaluated by EPA, along with information about each petition, including who submitted the petition and the requested action.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before July 22, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number and the pesticide petition (PP) of interest identified in Unit II. of this document, online at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Additional instructions on commenting on and visiting the docket, along with more information about dockets generally, are available at https://www.epa.gov/ dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Each application summary in Unit II. specifies a contact division

ormation you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Additional instructions on commenting on and visiting the docket, along with more information about dockets generally, are available at https://www.epa.gov/ dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Each application summary in Unit II. specifies a contact division. The appropriate division contacts are identified as follows:

• BPPD (Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division) (Mail Code 7511M); Alan Reynolds; main telephone number: (202) 566-1471; email address: BPPDFRNotices@epa.gov.

• RD (Registration Division) (Mail Code 7505T); Charles Smith; main telephone number: (202) 566-1030; email address: RDFRNotices@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Executive Summary

A. Does this action apply to me?

This action provides information that is directed to the public in general.

B. What is the Agency's authority for taking this action?

EPA regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various food commodities are established under section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 346a. FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), requires EPA to publish a notice of receipt of these petitions in the Federal Register and provide an opportunity for public comment on the requests.

C. What action is the Agency taking?

As specified in FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), EPA is publishing notice of the receipt of pesticide petitions filed under FFDCA section 408 that request the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various food commodities. The Agency is taking public comments on the requests before responding to the petitioner. Pursuant to 40 CFR 180.7(f), a summary of the petition identified in this document, prepared by the petitioner, is included in a docket

e petitions filed under FFDCA section 408 that request the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various food commodities. The Agency is taking public comments on the requests before responding to the petitioner. Pursuant to 40 CFR 180.7(f), a summary of the petition identified in this document, prepared by the petitioner, is included in a docket. EPA has determined that the pesticide petitions described in this document contain data or information prescribed in FFDCA section 408(d)(2), 21 U.S.C. 346a(d)(2), and 40 CFR 180.7(b); however, EPA has not fully evaluated the sufficiency of the submitted data at this time or whether the data supports granting the pesticide petitions. After considering the public comments, EPA intends to evaluate whether and what action may be warranted. Additional data may be needed before EPA can make a final determination on these pesticide petitions.

Based upon review of the data supporting these petitions and in accordance with its authority under FFDCA section 408(d)(4)(A)(i), EPA may establish a final tolerance or tolerance exemption that “may vary from that sought by the petitioner.” For example, EPA may determine that it is appropriate to vary the commodity name for consistency with EPA's Food and Feed Commodity Vocabulary, which is located here https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-tolerances/food-and-feed-commodity-vocabulary, or vary the tolerance level based on available data, harmonization interests,

or the trailing zeros policy

dance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.

2. Tips for preparing your comments. When preparing and submitting your comments, see the commenting tips at https://www.epa.gov//commenting-epa-dockets.

II. Petitions Received

This unit provides the following information about the petitions:

• The Pesticide Petition (PP) Identification (IN) number.

• EPA docket ID number for the petition.

• Information about the petition ( i.e., name of the petitioner, name of the pesticide chemical residue and the commodities for which a tolerance or exemption is sought).

• The analytical method available to detect and measure the pesticide chemical residue or the petitioner's statement about why such a method is not needed; and

• The division to contact for that petition.

Additional information on the petitions may be obtained through the petition summaries that were prepared by the petitioners pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 346a(d)(2)(A)(i)(I) and 40 CFR 180.7(b)(1), which are included in the docket for the petition as identified in this unit.

• PP 3F9099. (EPA-HQ-OPP-2025-0110). Ascribe Bioscience, Inc, 95 Brown Rd., Suite 202. Ithaca, NY 14850 (c/o SciReg, Inc., 12733 Director's Loop, Woodbridge, VA, 22192), requests to establish an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance in 40 CFR part 180 for residues of the (10R)-10-[(2R,3R,5R,6S)-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyundecanoic acid (Ascr#18) in or on raw agricultural commodities or processed food. The petitioner believes no analytical method is needed because Ascr#18 is naturally occurring and is non-toxic as demonstrated through acute, subchronic, and developmental toxicity and mutagenicity studies. The end-use product containing Ascr#18 is to be applied per acre is very low (20 fl. oz. per acre). Therefore, exposure to any residues of Ascr#18 in agricultural commodities or processed foods should not be of concern for human health. Contact: BPPD.

• PP 4F9133. (EPA-HQ-OPP-2025-0094)

n in or on all raw agricultural commodities. The petitioner believes no analytical method is needed because CH Biotech requests that EPA establish an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance without any numerical limitation. As a result, no analytical method for measuring residues of melatonin in crops for enforcement purposes are required. Contact: BPPD.

• PP 6F9228. (EPA-HQ-OPP-2026-1818). Corteva Agriscience, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268, requests to establish a tolerance in 40 CFR part 180 for residues of the insecticide sulfoxaflor in or on pistachio at 0.5 parts per million (ppm). The Offline Solid-Phase Extraction and Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry Detection method is used to measure and evaluate the chemical sulfoxaflor. Contact: RD.

Authority:

21 U.S.C. 346a.

Dated: June 16, 2026. Edward Messina, Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 2026-12417 Filed 6-18-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P