Which act authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to set maximum tolerances for pesticides used in or on foods or animal feed?

Which act authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to set maximum tolerances for pesticides used in or on foods or animal feed?

• A. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
• B. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
• C. Toxic Substances Control Act
• D. Animal Welfare Act

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that residue limits on food come from the FDA/USDA safety framework established under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, specifically as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act. This act grants the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to set maximum tolerances for pesticide residues in or on foods and animal feed, based on risk assessments to protect public health. While another law, FIFRA, governs how pesticides are registered and labeled for use, tolerances themselves are defined under the FD&C Act. The Toxic Substances Control Act and the Animal Welfare Act have different scopes—general chemical regulation and animal care, respectively—so they do not authorize setting these tolerances.

The key idea is that residue limits on food come from the FDA/USDA safety framework established under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, specifically as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act. This act grants the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to set maximum tolerances for pesticide residues in or on foods and animal feed, based on risk assessments to protect public health. While another law, FIFRA, governs how pesticides are registered and labeled for use, tolerances themselves are defined under the FD&C Act. The Toxic Substances Control Act and the Animal Welfare Act have different scopes—general chemical regulation and animal care, respectively—so they do not authorize setting these tolerances.