Compliance Policy Guide 

Guidance for FDA Staff 
CPG Sec. 575.100 Pesticide Chemical Residues in Food -
Enforcement Criteria (CPG 7141.01) 
DRAFT GUIDANCE 

This guidance document is being distributed for comment purposes only. 
Comments and suggestions regarding this draft document should be submitted within 60 
daysgfpublication in the Federal Register of the notice announcing the availability of 
the draft guidance. Submit comments to the Division of Dockets Maiiagement (HFA- 
305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 
20852. All comments should be identified with the docket number listed in the notice of 
availability that publishes in the Federal Register. 
For questions regarding this draft document, contact the Center for Food Safety and 
Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), 5 100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, Maryland 
20740,30 1-436-2022 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Food and Drug Administration 

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 

Center for Veterinary Medicine 

Oflice of Regulatory Affairs 

January 2008  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
DRAFT .Not for Implementation 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
. ....................................................................
I INTRODUCTION  4 

. .....................................................................
I1 BACKGROUND  4 

.......................................
Pesticide Chemical Residue Tolerances  5 

......
Tolerance Reassessment and the "Channels of Trade" Provision  5 

......................................................................
Action Levels  6 

. ...............................................................................
I11 POLICY 6 

. ........................................
IV REGULATORY ACTION GUIDANCE  7 

.................................................................
General Guidance  7 

......
Direct Reference Seizure and Direct Reference Import Detention  8 

.........
Recommendation to Center for Seizure and Import Detention  8 

. ............................................................
V SPECIMEN CHARGES  9 

Domestic Human Food or Animal Feed for Which There is No 

Tolerance and No Exemption from the Requirement for a 

............................................................................
Tolerance  9 

Domestic Human Food or Animal Feed for Which the Tolerance 

.........................................................................
is Exceeded  9 

Human Food or Animal Feed in Import Status for Which There 

is No Tolerance and no Exemption from the Requirement 

....................................................................
for a Tolerance  9 

Human Food or Animal Feed in Import Status for Which the 

.............................................................
Tolerance is Exceeded  9 
 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
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DRAFT  Not for Implementation 
.
VI FDA ACTION LEVELS FOR UNAVOIDABLE PESTICIDE 
..........................................
CHEMICAL RESIDUES IN FOOD  10 

.
Table 1 .CPG Commodity Groupings Compared to EPA Crop 
...........................................................................
Groups  11 

............................................................
Aldrin & Dieldrin  12 

..............................................
Benzene Hexachloride (BHC)  14 

......................................................................
Chlordane  15 

.......................................................
Chlordecone (Kepone)  17 

...........................................................
DDT. DDE. & TDE  17 

............................................................
Dicofol (Kelthane)  19 

.................................................
Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)  19 

........................................
Heptachlor & Heptachlor Epoxide  20 

........................................................................
Lindane  2 1   

.............................................................................
Mirex  21 
 Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

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DRAFT  Not for Implementation 

Compliance Policy Guide 
Guidance for FDA Staff 
-
CPG Sec. 575.100 Pesticide Chemical Residues in Food 
Enforcement Criteria (CPG 7141.01) 
This draft guidance, when final, will represent the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) 
current thinking on this topic. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person and 
does not operate to bind FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if the approach 
satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations. If you want to discuss an 
alternative approach, contact the FDA staff responsible for implementing this guidance. If you 
cannot identify the appropriate FDA staff, call the appropriate telephone number listed on the title 
page of this guidance. 
*I. INTRODUCTION: 
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for FDA staff regarding FDA's 
current thinking on its enforcement policy for pesticide chemical residues in food. 
FDA's guidance documents, including this Compliance Policy Guide, do not establish 
legally enforceable responsibilities. Instead, guidance documents describe the agency's 
current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only as recommendations, unless 
specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited. The use of the word should in 
agency guidance documents means that something is suggested or recommended, but not 
required.  Consistent with FDA's good guidance practices (21 CFR 10.1 15), the "criteria" 
in this CPG are discretionary factors. 
11. BACKGROUND: 
The regulation of food containing pesticide chemical residues is governed by sections 
201,402 and 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) (21 U.S.C. 321, 
342, and 346a). These sections of the Act were amended by the passage of the Food 
Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). A summary of the FQPA amendments can be 
found on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) website @: 
httv://~~~.e~a.rrov/vesticides/rerrulatindlaws/fq~a/index.htm. 

Section 201 (f) of the Act (2 1 U.S.C. 32 1(f))d efines "food" to include articles used for 
food or drink for man or other animals, i.e., human food and animal feed. Section  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

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DRAFT  Not for Implementation 

201 (q)(l) of the Act (2 1 U.S.C. 32 1( q)(l)) defines a "pesticide chemical" as "any 
substance that is a pesticide under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide 
Act [FIFRA], including all active and inert ingredients." Section 201(q)(2) of the Act (21 
U.S.C. 321 (q)(2)) defines a "pesticide chemical residue" to mean "a residue in or on raw 
agricultural commodity or processed food of --(A) a pesticide chemical; or (B) any other 
added substance that is present on or in the commodity of food primarily as the result of 
the metabolism or other degradation of a pesticide chemical."  Section 201 (gg) of the Act 
(21 U.S.C. 321(gg)) defines "processed food" as "any food other than a raw agricultural 
commodity that has been subject to processing, such as canning, cooking, freezing, 
dehydration, or milling." 
Pesticide Chemical Residue Tolerances 
Under section 408 of the Act (2 1 U.S.C. 346a), EPA may establish a tolerance or grant an 
exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for a pesticide chemical residue on a food. 
These tolerances and exemptions from tolerances generally cover domestic and imported 
food. A tolerance establishes the maximum amount of a pesticide chemical residue that 
may be legally present in or on a raw agricultural commodity or a processed food. EPA 
may establish such tolerances and exemptions from the need for a tolerance if EPA 
determines such tolerances or exemptions are safe, i.e., if EPA determines there is a 
reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure to the pesticide 
chemical residue, including all anticipated dietary exposures and all other exposures for 
which there is reliable information. http:llwww.gpoaccess.~ov/cfr/index.html. 
Tolerance Reassessment and the "Channels of Trade" Provision 
The FQPA requires EPA to reassess all pesticide chemical residue tolerances that were in 
place as of August 1996 within 10 years of its passage. Under section 408(1)(2) of the 
Act (21 U.S.C. 346a(1)(2)), when EPA determines that an existing tolerance does not 
meet the new safety standard, it must act within relatively short timeframes to first cancel 
some or all of the registered uses of the pesticide chemical and then revoke, suspend or 
modify the corresponding pesticide chemical residue tolerances. Such action by EPA 
could result in food bearing residues of lawfully applied pesticide chemicals while the 
food is still in commerce (i.e., in the "Channels of Trade") at the time of the revocation, 
suspension or modification of the applicable tolerance. 
The "Channels of Trade" provision under section 408(1)(5) of the Act (2 1 U.S.C. 
346a(1)(5)) addresses the situation where food, containing pesticide chemical residues 
from pesticide chemicals that were lawfdly applied or used under FIFRA, is still in 
commerce after the pesticide chemical tolerance has been revoked, suspended, or 
modified. Under the Channels of Trade provision, a food bearing such pesticide 
chemical residues is precluded from being deemed "adulterated" due to its bearing the 
pesticide chemical residue, if it is shown to the satisfaction of FDA that the residue 
complies with the former tolerance (or exemption, or food additive regulation) and the 
residue resulted from the lawfbl application of the pesticide chemical to the food.  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

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DRAFT  Not for Implementation 

However, there would be no opportunity to make a showing concerning the pesticide 
chemical residue if EPA has issued a determination that consumption of the legally 
treated food during its period of likely availability in commerce will pose an 
unreasonable dietary risk. Because the subject matter of such showings can vary from one 
pesticide chemical/food combination toanother, FDA has issued guidance on how such 
showings may be made for various pesticide chemicals in human food that have been the 
subject of a tolerance, revocation, suspension or modification under the FQPA tolerance 
reassessment process. (See "Channels of Trade Policy for Commodities With Residues of 
Pesticide Chemicals, for Which Tolerances Have Been Revoked, Suspended, or Modified 
by the Environmental Protection Agency Pursuant to Dietary Risk Considerations" at @ 
http://www.cfsan. fda.gov/-dms/pesg;uid2.html.) 
FDA also provides an opportunity to make a showing that a pesticide chemical residue in 
a food is the result of the lawfUl application of a pesticide chemical to food for residues 
of pesticide chemicals that were the subject of time limited tolerances that have expired. 
Although the Act does not specifically address "expired" tolerances, it has been FDA's 
experience that EPA considers an "expired" tolerance to be a "revoked" tolerance when 
applying the provisions of the Act, such as section 408(1)(5), which refers to tolerances 
that have been revoked, suspended, or modified. 
Action Levels 
Prior to passage of the FQPA, FDA established action levels based upon EPA 
recommendations for residues of such cancelled pesticide chemicals that were persistent 
in the environment and considered to be unavoidable in food and feed. See VI. FDA 
ACTION LEVELS FOR UNAVOIDABLE PESTICIDE CHEMICAL RESIDUES IN 
FOOD in this CPG for additional information on action levels. 
111. POLICY: 
FDA enforces tolerances established by EPA for pesticide chemical residues in food, 
except for meat, poultry, and certain egg products that are regulated by the United States 
Department of Agriculture. Under section 402(a)(2)(B) of the Act (21 U.S.C. 
436a(a)(2)(B)), a food (including human food and animal feed) is deemed to be 
adulterated if it bears or contains a pesticide chemical residue that is unsafe within the 
meaning of section 408(a) of the Act.  Under section 408(a) (21 U.S.C. 346a(a)), a 
pesticide chemical residue in or on a food is unsafe if: 
1. 	 A pesticide chemical residue is at a level greater than that specified by the tolerance 
(40 CFR 180 Subpart C - Specific Tolerances); or 
2. 	 There is no tolerance for the pesticide chemical residue and no exemption from the 
requirement of a tolerance exists (40 CFR 180 Subpart D -Exemptions From 
Tolerances).  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

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DRAFT  Not for Implementation 

IV. REGULATORY ACTION GUIDANCE: 
General Guidance 
1. 	 Section 20 1(q)(2) of the Act defines a "pesticide chemical residue" as a residue of a 
pesticide chemical, its metabolites, and degradates in or on a raw agricultural 
commodity or processed food. To determine if a pesticide chemical residue exceeds 
an existing tolerance, compare the level of residue(s), including the analogs and 
metabolites, in food or feed to the corresponding EPA regulation(s) that establishes 
the tolerance and parameters of the tolerance (e.g., the specific commodities to which 
the tolerance applies).  (40 CFR part 180) 
2. 	 Some pesticide chemical residues are covered under more than one tolerance 
regulation. For example, triadimefon is covered under 40 CFR 180.410  and one of its 
breakdown products, triadimenol, is covered under 40 CFR 180.450. In such cases, 
check all applicable regulations to determine if a tolerance is in effect for the 
pesticide chemical residue and commodity combination. 
3. 	 A tolerance applies to the commodity without regard to the origin of the commodity, 
unless otherwise stated in the tolerance regulation. The regulation may limit the 
scope of the application of the tolerance. For example, a regulation that specifies a 
tolerance for an "imported" commodity applies only to the specific imported 
commodity stated in the tolerance regulation. 
4. 	 Apply the tolerance for a pesticide chemical residue in a raw agricultural commodity 
to the processed commodity, unless otherwise indicated in the tolerance regulation or 
40 CFR 18 0.1 (i)(1O  ), which addresses processed food that requires rehydration or 
reconstituting prior to consumption. (40 CFR 180.1( e)). 
5. 	 For a processed food that consists primarily of one ingredient that requires 
rehydrating or reconstituting prior to consumption, e.g., h i tj uice concentrates, 
dehydrated vegetables, powdered potatoes, if a separate tolerance for the processed 
food does not exist, calculate the level of the pesticide chemical residue in the 
processed food that would be present in the food after rehydrating or reconstituting to 
its normal moisture content or, prior to the analysis, rehydrate or reconstitute the 
processed food to its normal moisture content. For example, for apple juice 
concentrate, calculate the level that would be present in the apple juice after 
reconstituting to a single strength juice.  (40 CFR 180.1( i)(10)). 
6. 	 For a commodity group identified in 40 CFR 180.1( a), a tolerance or exemption fiom 
a tolerance established for the commodity group applies to each specific commodity 
in the group. However, a tolerance or exemption fiom tolerance established for a 
specific commodity does not apply to the entire group, unless the EPA regulation 
establishing the applicable tolerance so indicates. For example, a tolerance for  Contains Nun binding Recommendations 

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DRAFT  Not for Implementation 

legume vegetables applies to chick peas, but a tolerance specifically for chick peas 
does not apply to all other legume vegetables. 
7. 	 Determine if there are applicable current or expired tolerances under FIFRA section 
18. (http://cfbub1 . epa.gov/oppref/section1 8/search.cfm) If there is an expired 
tolerance for the pesticidelcommodity combination, contact the appropriate Center for 
guidance. For tolerances established under FIFRA section 18 to cover the use of a 
pesticide in a specific State, region, or foreign country, apply the tolerance without 
regard to the State, region, or country of origin of the commodity, unless the EPA 
regulation establishing the applicable tolerance indicates otherwise. 
8. 	 Determine if the pesticide chemical residues are subject to the channels of trade 
provisions. htt~://www.cfsan.fda.aov/-lrd/pestadd.htm.Regulatory action may be 
recommended if the pesticide chemical residue is subject to the "Channels of Trade" 
provision of the Act (section 408(1)(5)) and there is no showing under such provision 
to establish that the presence of a pesticide chemical residue in or on the food does 
not deem the food to be unsafe and thus adulterated under section 402(a)(2)(B) of the 
Act. (For human food, see "Channels of Trade Policy for Commodities With 
Residues of Pesticide Chemicals, for Which Tolerances Have Been Revoked, 
Suspended, or Modified by the Environmental Protection Agency Pursuant to Dietary 
Risk Considerations" @ http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/-dms/pesgd2.html). 
9. 	 If there is evidence of abuse of a pesticide or for questions relating to tolerances, 
contact EPA, and the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) or the 
Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), as appropriate. 
Direct Reference Seizure and Direct Reference Import Detention 
The following represent criteria for recommending direct reference seizure of human 
food or animal feed to ORA, Office of Enforcement, Division of Compliance 
Management and Operations (HFC-210) or for direct reference recommendation for 
detention without physical examination (DWPE) of human food or animal feed offered 
for import, to ORA, Office of Regional Operations, Division of Import Operations and 
Policy (HFC- 170): 
The pesticide chemical residue is not subject to the "Channels of Trade" provision of 
the Act (section 408(1)(5)) and the level of such residue: 
1. Exceeds an established tolerance or action level by at least 15%, or 
2. Exceeds 0.05 ppm and also exceeds the limit of quantitation by at least 50%, when 
no tolerance or exemption fiom tolerance or action level has been established. 
Recommendation to Center for Seizure and Import Detention 
The following represent criteria for recommending seizure or import detention of human 
food to CFSAN, Office of Compliance, Division of Enforcement (HFS-607) and for  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

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recommending seizure or import detention of animal feed to CVM, Division of 
Compliance (HFV-230): 
The pesticide chemical residue is not subject to the "Channels of Trade" provision of 
the Act (section 408(1)(5)) and the level of such residue is greater than an established 
tolerance or greater than or equal to an action level, but does not meet the criteria for 
direct reference. 
V. SPECIMEN CHARGES: 
Domestic Human Food or Animal Feed for Which There is No Tolerance and No 
Exemption from the Requirement for a Tolerance 
The article of food was adulterated when introduced into and while in interstate commerce 
and is adulterated while held for sale after shipment in interstate commerce, within the 
meaning of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 342(a)(2)(B), in that it bears and contains a pesticide 
chemical residue, namely  ,that is unsafe within the meaning of 21 U.S.C. 
346a because no tolerance or exemption from the requirement of a tolerance is in effect for 
such pesticide chemical residue in or on the article. 
Domestic Human Food or Animal Feed for Which the Tolerance is Exceeded 
The article of food was adulterated when introduced into and while in interstate commerce 
and is adulterated while held for sale after shipment in interstate commerce, within the 
meaning of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 342(a)(2)(B), in that it bears and contains a pesticide 
chemical residue, namely  ,that is unsafe within the meaning of 2 1 U.S.C. 346a 
because the quantity of such pesticide chemical residue exceeds the limits of the tolerance 
in effect for such pesticide chemical residue in or on the article pursuant to 40 CFR 
1 8 0 . .  
Human Food or Animal Feed in Import Status for Which There is No Tolerance and No 
Exemvtion from the Requirement for a Tolerance 
The article of food is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to 801( a)(3) of the FD&C 
Act in that it appears to be adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(2)(B) of the 
FD&C Act in that it bears and contains a pesticide chemical residue, namely 
,that is unsafe within the meaning of section 408 of the FD&C Act 
because no tolerance or exemption from the requirement of a tolerance is in effect for 
such pesticide chemical residue in or on the article. 
Human Food or Animal Feed in Import Status for Which the Tolerance is Exceeded 
The article of food is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to 80 1( a)(3) of the FD&C 
Act in that it appears to be adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(2)(B) of the 
FD&C Act in that it bears and contains a pesticide chemical residue, namely  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

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DRAFT  Not for Implementation 

,that is unsafe within the meaning of  section 408 of the FD&C Act 
because the quantity of such pesticide chemical residue exceeds the limits of the 
tolerance in effect for such pesticide chemical residue in or on the article pursuant to 40 
CFR 1S  O . . *  
VI. FDA ACTION LEVELS FOR UNAVOIDABLE PESTICIDE 
CHEMICAL RESIDUES IN FOOD 
*The action levels listed in this CPG predate the FQPA and have been retained from the 
previous version of this CPG. These action levels were set by FDA in consultation with 
EPA for residues of cancelled pesticide chemicals that persist in the environment and that 
were considered to be unavoidable in food and feed. FDA, in consultation with EPA, 
may at a future date determine on a case-by-case basis that it is appropriate to withdraw 
an action level because EPA has elected to issue a tolerance for residues of the pesticide 
chemical in food, under section 408(1)(4) of the Act (21 U.S.C. 346a(1)(4)), or because 
EPA has determined that the residues of the pesticide chemical are no longer expected to 
be unavoidably present in food.  In the absence of a tolerance, food that bears or contains 
an unavoidable pesticide chemical residue is adulterated under section 402(a)(2)(B) of 
the Act (21 U.S.C. 342(a)(2)(B)). 
The action levels listed in this CPG do not represent permissible levels of contamination 
and are not binding on FDA or the public. FDA would consider, case-by-case, whether 
to exercise its enforcement discretion and not take action to remove food from the 
marketplace that bears or contains an unavoidable pesticide chemical residue for which 
there is no tolerance. Thus, FDA may consider enforcement action when the level of a 
pesticide chemical residue in the food is below, equal to, or exceeds an action level. The 
District should contact the appropriate Center for questions regarding applicability of an 
action level. 
Unless otherwise specified, an action level listed for: 
1. 	 A raw agricultural commodity may also apply to the corresponding processed food 
intended for human consumption or the corresponding processed feed intended for 
animal consumption; 
2. 	 Fish may also apply to shellfish; and 
3. 	 Processed animal feed may include a feed ingredient or a combination of feed 
ingredients (e.g., complete feed, supplement, concentrate, etc.). 
Table 1. provides a comparison of commodity groupings listed in this CPG and crop 
groups established in 40 CFR 180.41. When FDA established action levels, based on 
EPA's recommendations, FDA specified several commodity groupings, which each 
included two or more commodities. At the time the action levels were established, the 
names of the commodity groupings, and the commodities listed within a commodity 
grouping, were identical to the commodity groupings, and commodities within, identified 
in EPA regulations.  Subsequently, EPA organized commodities according to "crop 
groups," which may not include all of the commodities that were in the original  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

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commodity groupings or may include additional commodities that were not in the 
original commodity groupings. Contact the appropriate Center for questions relating to 
applicability of an action level to a specific commodity in a commodity grouping listed in 
this CPG.  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
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Table 1. -CPG Commodity Groupings Compared to EPA Crop Groups 
CPG Commodity  EPA Crop Groups 

Groupings  40 CFR 180.41 

essarily limited to, the 

owing crop groups) 

Crop Group 15  Cereal Grains Group 
Crop Group 16  Forage, Fodder and Straw of Cereal Grains Group 
Crop Group 17  Grass Forage, Fodder, and Hay Group 
Crop Group 18  Nongrass Animal Feeds (Forage, Fodder, Straw, and 
I 	 I ~ a vGiro u	r, I 
1 	 Small fruits and berries  I Cror, Grour, 13  1 Berries Grou~  1 
Small fruits  NONE 
Cereal mains  CroG~ rou~1 5  Cereal Grains Grour, 
I Forage, fodder, and straw  I Crop Group 16  1  Forage, Fodder and Straw of Cereal Grains Group  1 
of cereal grain 
Hay  Crop Group 16  Forage, Fodder and Straw of Cereal Grains Group 
Crop Group 17  Grass Forage, Fodder, and Hay Group 
Crop Group 18  Nongrass Animal Feeds (Forage, Fodder, Straw, and 
I 
Hay) Group 
*  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

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Aldrin &Dieldrin 
The following action levels are for residues of the above pesticides individually or in 
combination. In adding amounts of aldrin and dieldrin do not count aldrin or dieldrin 
found at a level below 0.01 ppm for nonfatty foods, 0.1 ppm for fish and 0.1 (fat basis) 
for milk. 
** 
Commodity  Action Level (ppm) 
Alfalfa  0.03 
Animal feed, processed  0.03 
Artichokes  0.05 
Asparagus  0.03 
Bananas  0.02 
Beets (garden and sugar)  0.1 
Beet tops (garden and sugar)  0.05 
Broccoli  0.03 
Brussels sprouts  0.03 
Bulb vegetables  0.1 
Cabbage  0.03 
Carrots  0.1 
Cauliflower  0.03 
Cereal grains (except buckwheat, millet,  0.02 
teosinte and wild rice) 

Celery 
 0.03 
Clover 
 0.03 
Collards 
 0.05 
Cowpea hay 
 0.03 
Cucumbers 
 0.1 
Eggplant 
 0.05 
Eggs 
 0.03 
Endive (escarole) 
 0.05 
Fats and oils (animal feed) 
 0.3 
Figs 
 0.05 
Fish (edible portion) 
 0.3 
Forage, fodder and straw of cereal  0.3 
grains (except those of buckwheat, 
millet, teosinte and wild rice) 
Grapefiuit  0.02 
Hay  0.03 
Horseradish  0.1 
Kale  0.05 
Kohlrabi  0.05 
Legume vegetables (except guar,  0.05 
jackbeans, lablab beans and lentils)  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

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Aldrin &Dieldrin -continued 
Commodity  Action Level (ppm) 
Lemons 
Lespedeza 
Lettuce 
Limes 
Mangoes 
Melons 
Milk (fat basis) 
Mustard green 
Oranges 
Parsnips 
Pea 
Peaches 
Peanuts 
Peanut hay 
Peppers 
Pimentos 
Pineapple 
Pome Fruits (except crabapples 
and loquats) 
Potatoes 
Radishes 
Radish tops 
Rutabagas 
Salsify roots 
Salsify tops 
Small fruits and berries 
Soybean hay 
Spinach 
Squash 
Stone fruits (except Chickasaw, 
Damson and Japanese plums, 
and peaches) 
Sugarbeet pulp (animal feed) 
Sweet potatoes 
Swiss chard 
Tangerines 
Tomatoes 
Turnips 
Turnip tops 
**  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
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Benzene Hexachloride (BHC) 
The following action levels are for residues of total BHC. However, in adding amounts of 
individual isomers do not count alpha, gamma, or delta BHC at a level below 0.02 ppm in 
milk and rabbits, and 0.01 ppm for all other commodities listed. Do not count beta BHC 
at a level below 0.05 ppm for milk and rabbits, and 0.02 ppm for all other commodities 
listed. 
*For rabbits that contain insufficient fat to conduct an analysis on a fat basis, analyze the 
rabbits on a whole product basis (edible portion) and use 0.1 ppm, the limit of 
determination, as the action level.* 
Commodity  Action Level (ppm) 
Animal feed, processed  0.05 
Apples  0.05 
Asparagus  0.05 
Avocados  0.05 
Beans  0.05 
Brassica (cole) leafy vegetables  0.05 
(except broccoli raab and rape greens) 
Celery 
Carrots 
Cereal grains (except buckwheat, 
millet, popcorn, teosinte and wild rice) 
Citrus fruits 
Cocoa beans 
Cucurbit vegetables (except Balsam 
pears, Chinese waxgourds, gherkins 
and gourds) 
Eggplant 
Eggs 
Endive 
Figs 
Frog legs (edible portion) 
Guavas 
Hay 
Mangoes 
Milk (fat basis) 
Okra 
Onions 
Paprika 
Pears 
Peas  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

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Benzene Hexachloride (BHC) -continued 
Commodity  Action Level (vvm) 
Pecans  0.05 
Peppers  0.05 
Pineapples  0.05 
*Quinces*  0.05 
Rabbits (fat basis)**  0.3 
Root and tuber vegetables  0.05 
(except carrots) 
Small fruits and berries 
Spinach 
Swiss chard 
Stone fruits (except Chickasaw, 
Damson and Japanese plums) 
Tomatoes 
Turnip greens 
* * 
Chlordane 
The following action levels are for residues of chlordane, including cis and trans 
chlordane, cis and trans nonachlor, oxychlordane, alpha, beta, and gamma chlordane and 
chlordane. Levels of individual components must be quantitated at 0.02 ppm or above 
* 
and confirmed in order to be added into the "chlordane" total value. 
The gas liquid chromatography (GLC) pattern of the residue determines which reference 
standard(s) will be used for quantitation. If the residue pattern matches that of technical 
chlordane, quantitate against a technical chlordane reference standard. If the residue 
consists of identifiable individual components, (i.e., cis and trans chlordane, cis and trans 
nonachlor, oxychlordane, alpha, beta, and gamma chlordane and chlordane), quantitate 
individual components against their respective standards. Sum individual values to obtain 
the total "chlordane" level. Do not include levels of heptachlor epoxide in the 
* 
summation.
** 
Commodity  Action Level (vvm) 
Animal fat, rendered  0.3 
Animal feed, processed  0.1 
Asparagus  0.1 
Bananas  0.1 
Beans  0.1 
Beets (with or without tops)  0.1 
Beets greens  0.1  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
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DRAFT  Not for Implementation 
Chlordane -continued 
Comrnoditv  Action Level (ppm) 
Brassica (cole) leafy vegetables  0.1 
(except broccoli raab, Chinese mustard 
cabbage and rape greens) 
Carrots  0.1 
Celery  0.1 
Citrus fruits  0.1 
Corn  0.1 
Cucumbers  0.1 
Eggplant  0.1 
Fish (edible portion)  0.3 
Lettuce  0.1 
Melons  0.1 
Okra  0.1 
Onions  0.1 
Papayas  0.1 
Parsnips  0.1 
Peanuts  0.1 
Peas  0.1 
Peppers  0.1 
Pineapple  0.1 
Pome fruits (except crabapples  0.1 
and loquats) 
Potatoes  0.1 
Radishes  0.1 
Radish tops  0.1 
Rutabagas (with or without tops)  0.1 
Rutabaga tops  0.1 
Small fruits and berries (except  0.1 
cranberries, currants, elderberries, 
gooseberries and olallie berries) 
Spinach  0.1 
Squash  0.1 
Stone fruits (except Chickasaw,  0.1 
Damson and Japanese plums) 
Sweet potatoes  0.1 
Swiss chard  0.1 
Tomatoes  0.1 
Tumips (with or without tops)  0.1 
Turnip greens  0.1
* *  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

-
DRAFT  Not for Implementation 

Chlordecone  "(The trade name for chlordecone is Kepone.)* 
Commodity  Action Level (ppm) 
-
Crabmeat  0.4 
Fish 0.3 
* * 
DDT, DDE, & TDE 
The following action levels are for residues of the above pesticides individually or in 
combination. However, in adding amounts of DDT, DDE & TDE do not count any of the 
three found below 0.02 ppm for non-fatty food and 0.2 ppm for fish, eggs, and grains. 
Commodity  Action Level (ppm) 
Animal feed, processed  0.5 
Artichokes  0.5 
Asparagus  0.5 
Avocados  0.2 
Beets (roots and tops)  0.2 
Brassica (cole) leafy vegetables  0.5 
(except broccoli raab, Chinese 
mustard cabbage and rape greens) 
Carrots  3.O 
Cereal grains (except buckwheat, fresh  0.5 
sweetcorn, millet, popcorn, teosinte 
and wild rice) 
Celery  0.5 
Citrus fruits  0.1 
Cocoa beans  1.O 
Corn, fresh sweet 
Cottonseed 
Cucumbers 
Eggplant 
Eggs 
Endive (escarole) 
Fish (edible portion) 
Grapes 
Guavas 
Hay 
Hops 
Legume vegetables (except guar, 
jackbeans, lablab beans and lentils) 
Lettuce  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

-
DRAFT  Not for Implementation 

-
DDT, DDE, & TDE  continued 
Commodity  Action Level (ppm) 
Mangoes  0.2 
Melons  0.1 
Milk (fat basis)  1.25 
Mushrooms  0.5 
Okra  0.2 
Onions (dry bulb)  0.2 
Papayas  0.2 
Parsnips (roots and tops)  0.2 
Peanuts  0.2 
Peppermint hay  0.5 
Peppermint oil  1.o 
Peppers  0.1 
Pineapples  0.2 
Pome fruits (except crabapples and  0.1 
loquats) 
Potatoes 
Radishes (roots and tops) 
Rutabagas (roots and tops) 
Small fruits and berries (except 
elderberries, grapes and 
olallie berries) 
Soybean oil (crude) 
Spearmint hay 
Spearmint oil 
Spinach 
Squash 
Stone fruits (except Chickasaw, 
Damson and Japanese plums) 
Sweet potatoes 
Swiss chard 
Tomatoes 
Tomato pomace 
Turnips (roots and tops) 
* *  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
-
DRAFT  Not for Implementation 
Dicofol  "(The trade name for dicofol is Kelthane.)* 
Commodity  Action Level (ppm) 
Animal feed, processed  0.5
* * 
Ethylene Dibromide (EDB) 
Commodity  Action Level (ppb) 
Grain products 
Intermediate (milled)  150 
(must be cooked prior to consumption) 
Examples: flour, cake mix, 

pancake mix, corn meal, 

grits, quick grits, oatmeal, 

instant oatmeal, hominy, 

brown and serve rolls, 

frozen bread dough 

Ready-to-eat (cooked)  30 
(require no cooking prior to consumption) 

Examples: bread, cakes, 

pancakes, corn bread, 

hushpuppies, cooked grits, 

cooked oatmeal, cooked hominy, 

crispy rice cereal, wheat flakes 

cereal, puffed oats, corn oil 

Honey, ready-to-eat 
(will not undergo further processing 
prior to consumption)  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

-
DRAFT  Not for Implementation 

Heptachlor & Heptachlor Epoxide 
The figures below are for residues of the above pesticide and its metabolite individually 
or in combination. However, do not count heptachlor or heptachlor epoxide found at a 
level below 0.1 ppm for fish, 0.05 ppm (fat basis) for milk, and 0.01 ppm for nonfatty 
foods. 
Commodity * *  Action Levels (p~m) 
Animal feed, processed  0.03 
Artichokes 
Asparagus 
Beans, except snap beans 
Citrus fruits 
Cucumbers 
Eggs 
Eggplant 
Figs 
Fish (edible portion) 
Hay 
Leafy vegetables 
Melons 
Okra 
Pears 
Pimentos 
Pumpkins 
Quinces 
Rice 
** 
Small fruits 
** 
Stone fruits 
Squash
* *  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
-
DRAFT  Not for Implementation 
Lindane 

*Note: Lindane has tolerances in certain commodities. See 40 CFR 180.133.* 

Commodity  Action Level (ppm) 

Animal feed, processed  0.1 

Artichokes  0.5 

Barley  0.1 

Beans  0.5 

* * 
Citrus fruits  0.5 

Cocoa beans, whole raw bean  0.5 

Corn, fresh sweet  0.5 

Corn  0.1 

Eggs  0.5 

Endive  0.5 

Figs  0.5 

Hay  0.1 

Milk (fat basis)  0.3 

Oats  0.1 

Peas  0.5 

Rice  0.1 

** 
Root vegetables  0.5 

Rye  0.1 

** 
Small hits  0.5 

Sorghum (milo)  0.1 

Turnip greens  0.5 

Wheat  0.1

* * 
Mirex 
Commodity  Action Level (ppm) 

Fish (edible portion)  0.1 

*Material between asterisks is new or revised.* 

Issued: 911 5/86 

Revised: 4/1/87, 8125189,3195, FalV00, 5/02, [Insert date]