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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND POLLUTION 

PREVENTION

MEMORANDUM

DATE: March 5, 2013

SUBJECT: ChemSAC Review of the Analysis of the USDA IR-4 Crop Grouping Proposal to 

Establish a New Crop Group 23 Tropical and Subtropical Fruit – Edible Peel, and 

Amend the Commodity Definitions [40 CFR 180.1 (g)] Related to the Proposed 

Crop Group. 

FROM: Bernard A. Schneider, Ph.D., Senior Plant Physiologist

Chemistry and Exposure Branch 

Health Effects Division (7509P) 

TO: Steve Funk, Ph.D., Chairperson HED Chemistry Science Advisory Council 

(ChemSAC) and Members

Jennifer Selwyn, and Monica Le, and Susan Wong, Health Canada, PMRA

Alma Liliana Tovar Díaz, Deputy Director of Certification and Recognition

Senasica-Sagarpa, Mexico

Barbara Madden, Minor Use Officer, RD (7505P)

cc: IR-4 Project, Bill Barney, Jerry Baron, Dan Kunkel, Debbie Carpenter, Van Starner 

ACTION REQUESTED:

William P. Barney, Crop Grouping Project Coordinator, and Kathryn Homa, Assistant 

Coordinator, USDA Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4), State Agricultural Experiment 

Station, Rutgers University have submitted a petition (November 16, 2010) on behalf of the IR-4 

Project, and the Tropical Fruits Workgroup of the International Crop Grouping Consulting 

Committee (ICGCC) to establish a new Crop Group (40 CFR § 180.41) Crop Group 23, Tropical 

and Subtropical Fruit – Edible Peel Group, and propose addition of Commodity Definitions 40 

CFR 180.1 (g). 
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The above-mentioned Tropical and Subtropical fruit crop group petition requested the 

following five proposals:

1. Establish a new crop group in 40 CFR 180.41 (c) as “Tropical and Subtropical Fruits, Edible 

Peel”.

2. Add the following 108 commodities to this new crop group:

1. Açaí, Euterpe oleracea Mart., (Arecaceae (alt. Palmae))

2. Acerola, Malpighia emarginata DC., (Malpighiaceae)

3. African plum, Vitex doniana Sweet, (Lamiaceae (alt. Labiatae) (also placed in Verbenaceae))

4. Agritos, Berberis trifoliolata Moric., (Berberidaceae)

5. Almondette, Buchanania lanzan Spreng., (Anacardiaceae)

6. Ambarella, Spondias dulcis Sol. ex Parkinson, (Anacardiaceae)

7. Apak palm, Brahea dulcis (Kunth) Mart., (Arecaceae (alt. Palmae))

8. Appleberry, Billardiera scandens Sm., (Pittosporaceae)

9. Arazá, Eugenia stipitata McVaugh, (Myrtaceae)

10. Arbutus berry, Arbutus unedo L., (Ericaceae)

11. Babaco, Vasconcellea x heilbornii (V. M. Badillo) V. M. Badillo, (Caricaceae)

12. Bacaba palm, Oenocarpus bacaba Mart., (Arecaceae (alt. Palmae))

13. Bacaba-de-leque, Oenocarpus distichus Mart., (Arecaceae (alt. Palmae))

14. Bayberry, Red, Morella rubra Lour., (Myricaceae)

15. Bignay, Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng., (Phyllanthaceae)

16. Bilimbi, Averrhoa bilimbi L., (Oxalidaceae (also placed in Averrhoaceae))

17. Breadnut, Brosimum alicastrum Sw., (Moraceae)

18. Cabeluda, Plinia glomerata (O. Berg) Amshoff, (Myrtaceae)

19. Cajou (pseudofruit), Anacardium giganteum Hance ex Engl., (Anacardiaceae)

20. Cambucá, Marlierea edulis Nied., (Myrtaceae)

21. Carandas-plum, Carissa edulis Vahl, (Apocynaceae)

22. Carob, Ceratonia siliqua L., (Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae) (also placed in Caesalpiniaceae))

23. Cashew (pseudofruit), Anacardium occidentale L., (Anacardiaceae)

24. Ceylon iron wood, Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard, (Sapotaceae)

25. Ceylon olive, Elaeocarpus serratus L., (Elaeocarpaceae)

26. Cherry-of-the-Rio-Grande, Eugenia aggregata (Vell.) Kiaersk., (Myrtaceae)

27. Chinese olive, black, Canarium tramdenum C. D. Dai& Yakovlev, (Burseraceae)

28. Chinese olive, white, Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch., (Burseraceae)

29. Chirauli-nut, Buchanania latifolia Roxb., (Anacardiaceae)

30. Ciruela verde, Bunchosia armeniaca (Cav.) DC., (Malpighiaceae)

31. Cocoplum, Chrysobalanus icaco L., (Chrysobalanaceae)

32. Date, Phoenix dactylifera L., (Arecaceae (alt. Palmae))

33. Davidson's plum, Davidsonia pruriens F. Muell., (Cunoniaceae (also placed in Davidsoniaceae))

34. Desert-date, Balanites aegyptiacus (L.) Delile, (Zygophyllaceae (also placed in Balanitaceae))

35. Doum palm coconut, Hyphaene thebaica (L.) Mart., (Arecaceae (alt. Palmae))

36. False sandalwood, Ximenia americana L., (Olacaceae)

37. Feijoa, Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) Burret, (Myrtaceae)

38. Fig, Ficus carica L., (Moraceae)

39. Fragrant Manjack, Cordia dichotoma G. Forst., (Boraginaceae)
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40. Gooseberry, Abyssinian, Dovyalis abyssinica (A. Rich.) Warb., (Salicaceae (also placed in 

Flacourtiaceae))

41. Gooseberry, Ceylon, Dovyalis hebecarpa (Gardner) Warb., (Salicaceae (also placed in 

Flacourtiaceae))

42. Gooseberry, Indian, Phyllanthus emblica L., (Phyllanthaceae (also placed in Euphorbiaceae))

43. Gooseberry, Otaheite, Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels, (Phyllanthaceae (also placed in 

Euphorbiaceae))

44. Governor's plum, Flacourtia indica (Burm. F.) Merr., (Salicaceae (also placed in Flacourtiaceae))

45. Grumichama, Eugenia brasiliensis Lam, (Myrtaceae)

46. Guabiroba, Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg, (Myrtaceae)

47. Guava, Psidium guajava L., (Myrtaceae) [Includes by crop definition: 

48. Guava berry, Myrciaria floribunda (H. West ex Willd.) O. Berg, (Myrtaceae)

49. Guava, Brazilian, Psidium guineense Sw., (Myrtaceae)

50. Guava, Cattley, Psidium cattleianum Sabine, (Myrtaceae)

51. Guava, Costa Rican, (Psidium friedrichsthalianum (O. Berg) Nied.), (Myrtaceae)

52. Guava, Para, Psidium acutangulum DC., (Myrtaceae)

53. Guava, purple strawberry, Psidium cattleianum Sabine var. cattleianum, (Myrtaceae)

54. Guava, strawberry, Psidium cattleianum Sabine var. littorale (Raddi) Fosberg, (Myrtaceae)

55. Guava, yellow strawberry, Psidium cattleianum Sabine var. cattleianum forma lucidum O. Deg., 

(Myrtaceae)

56. Guayabillo, (Psidium sartorianum (O. Berg) Nied.)

57. Illawarra plum, Podocarpus elatus R. Br. Ex Endl., (Podocarpaceae)

58. Imbé, Garcinia livingstonei T. Anderson, (Clusiaceae (alt. Guttiferae))

59. Imbu, Spondias tuberosa Arruda ex Kost., (Anacardiaceae)

60. Indian-plum, Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.). (basionym), (Salicaceae (also placed in Flacourtiaceae))

61. Jaboticaba, Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.) O. Berg, (Myrtaceae)

62. Jamaica-cherry, Muntingia calabura L., (Muntingiaceae, ((also placed in Elaeocarpaceae, Tiliaceae))

63. Jambolan, Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, (Myrtaceae)

64. Jelly palm, Butia capitata (Mart.) Becc., (Arecaceae (alt. Palmae))

65. Jujube, Chinese, Ziziphus jujuba Mill., (Rhamnaceae)

66. Jujube, Indian, Ziziphus mauritiana Lam., (Rhamnaceae)

67. Kaffir-plum, Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh. Ex C. Krauss, (Anacardiaceae)

68. Kakadu plum, Terminalia latipes Benth. Subsp. psilocarpa Pedley, (Combretaceae)

69. Kapundung, Baccaurea racemosa (Reinw.) Mull. Arg., (Phyllanthaceae (also placed in 

Euphorbiaceae))

70. Karanda, Carissa carandas L., (Apocynaceae)

71. Kwai muk, Artocarpus hypargyreus Hance ex Benth., (Moraceae)

72. Lemon aspen, Acronychia acidula F. Muell., (Rutaceae)

73. Mangaba, Hancornia speciosa Gomes, (Apocynaceae)

74. Marian plum, Bouea macrophylla Griff., (Anacardiaceae)

75. Mombin, Malayan, Spondias pinnata (J. Koenig ex L. f.) Kurz, (Anacardiaceae)

76. Mombin, purple, Spondias purpurea L., (Anacardiaceae)

77. Mombin, yellow, Spondias mombin L., (Anacardiaceae)

78. Monkeyfruit, Artocarpus lacucha Buch.-Ham., (Moraceae)

79. Monos plum, Pseudanamomis umbellulifera (Kunth) Kausel, (Myrtaceae)

80. Mountain cherry, Bunchosia cornifolia Kunth, (Malpighiaceae)

81. Nance, Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth, (Malpighiaceae)

82. Natal plum, Carissa macrocarpa (Eckl.) A.DC, (Apocynaceae)

83. Noni, Morinda citrifolia L., (Rubiaceae)
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84. Olive, Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea, (Oleaceae)

85. Papaya, Mountain, Vasconcellea pubescens A. DC., (Caricaceae)

86. Patauá, Oenocarpus bataua Mart., (Arecaceae (alt. Palmae))

87. Peach palm, Bactris gasipaes Kunth var. gasipaes, (Arecaceae (alt. Palmae))

88. Persimmon, black, Diospyros texana Scheele, (Ebenaceae)

89. Persimmon, Japanese, Diospyros kaki Thunb., (Ebenaceae)

90. Pitomba, Eugenia luschnathiana Klotzsch ex O. Berg, (Myrtaceae)

91. Plum-of-Martinique, Flacourtia inermis Roxb., (Salicaceae (also placed in Flacourtiaceae))

92. Pomerac, Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry, (Myrtaceae)

93. Rambai, Baccaurea motleyana (Mull. Arg.) Mull. Arg., (Phyllanthaceae)

94. Rose apple, Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston, (Myrtaceae)

95. Rukam, Flacourtia rukam Zoll. & Moritizi, (Salicaceae (also placed in Flacourtiaceae))

96. Rumberry, Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) Mc Vaugh, (Myrtaceae)

97. Sea grape, Coccoloba uvifera (L.) L., (Polygonaceae)

98. Sentul, Sandoricum koetjape (Burm. F.) Merr., (Meliaceae)

99. Sete-capotes, Campomanesia guazumifolia (Cambess.) O. Berg, (Myrtaceae)

100. Silver aspen, Acronychia wilcoxiana (F. Muell.) T.G. Hartley, (Rutaceae)

101. Starfruit, Averrhoa carambola L., (Oxalidaceae (also placed in Averrhoaceae))

102. Surinam cherry, Eugenia uniflora L., (Myrtaceae)

103. Tamarind, Tamarindus indica L., (Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae) (also placed in Caesalpiniaceae))

104. Uvalha, Eugenia pyriformis Cambess., (Myrtaceae)

105. Water apple, Syzygium aqueum (Burm. F.) Alston, (Myrtaceae)

106. Water pear, Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC., (Myrtaceae)

107. Water berry, Syzygium cordatum Hochst. Ex C. Krauss, (Myrtaceae)

108. Wax jambu, Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L.M.Perry, (Myrtaceae).

And cultivars, varieties and/or hybrids of these.”

3. Recommend the following four commodities: Olive, fig, guava, and date to be representative 

commodities for the new crop group.

4. Add the following three tropical and subtropical crop subgroups:

Subgroup 23A: Tropical and Subtropical, Small Fruits, Edible Peel Subgroup –

Proposed Representative Crop: Olive

There are fifty-seven commodities proposed for this subgroup and include:

Acerola; African plum; Agritos; Almondette; Appleberry; Arbutus berry; Bayberry, Red; 

Bignay; Breadnut; Cabeluda; Carandas-plum; Ceylon iron wood; Ceylon olive; Cherry-of-theRio-Grande; Chinese olive, black; Chinese olive, white; Chirauli-nut; Cocoplum; Desert-date; 

False sandalwood; Fragrant Manjack; Gooseberry, Abyssinian; Gooseberry, Ceylon; 

Gooseberry, Otaheite; Governor’s plum; Grumichama; Guabiroba; Guava berry; Guava, 

Brazilian; Guava, Costa Rican; Guayabillo; Illawarra plum; Indian-plum; Jamaica-cherry; 

Jambolan; Jujube, Chinese; Kaffir-plum; Kakadu plum; Kapundung; Karnada; Lemon aspen; 

Mombin, yellow; Monos plum; Mountain cherry; Olive; Persimmon, Black; Pitomba; Plum-ofMartinique; Rukam; Rumberry; Sea grape; Sete-capotes; Silver aspen; Water apple; Water pear; 

Water berry; Wax jambu.
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Subgroup 23B: Tropical and Subtropical, Medium to Large Fruits, Edible Peel Subgroup -

Proposed Representative Crops: Fig and Guava.

There are forty two commodities proposed for this subgroup and include:

Ambarella; Arazá; Babaco; Bilimbi; Cajou (pseudofruit); Cambucá; Carob; Cashew 

(pseudofruit); Ciruela verde; Davidson’s plum; Feijoa; Fig; Gooseberry, Indian; Guava; Guava, 

Cattley, Guava, Para; Guava, purple strawberry; Guava, strawberry; Guava, yellow strawberry; 

Imbé; Imbu; Jaboticaba; Jujube, Indian; Kwai muk; Mangaba; Marian plum; Mombin, Malayan; 

Mombin, purple; Monkeyfruit; Nance; Natal plum; Noni; Papaya, Mountain; Persimmon, 

Japanese; Pomerac; Rambai; Rose apple; Sentul; Starfruit; Surinam cherry; Tamarind; Uvalha.

Subgroup 23C: Tropical and Subtropical Palm Fruits, Edible Peel Subgroup –

Proposed Representative Crop: Date

There are nine commodities proposed for this subgroup and include:

Açaí; Apak palm; Bacaba palm; Bacaba-de-leque; Date; Doum palm coconut; Jelly palm; 

Patauá; Peach palm.

5. Add Commodity Definition [40 CFR 180.1 (g)] for Guava?

A new crop definition is proposed for guava that includes many of the closely related 

genus (Psidium), species and varieties. The following is a proposed crop definition for Tropical 

and Subtropical Fruit, Edible Peel:

A B

Guava 

(Psidium guajava L.)

Guava (Psidium guajava L.); Guava, Para (Psidium acutangulum DC.); 

Guava, Brazilian (Psidium guineense Sw.); Guava, cattley (Psidium 

cattleianum Sabine); Guava, Costa Rican (Psidium friedrichsthalianum

(O. Berg) Nied.); Guava, purple strawberry (Psidium cattleianum Sabine 

var. cattleianum); Guava, strawberry (Psidium cattleianum Sabine var. 

littorale (Raddi) Fosberg); Guava, yellow strawberry; (Psidium 

cattleianum Sabine var. cattleianum forma lucidum O. Deg.); Guayabillo 

(Psidium sartorianum (O. Berg) Nied.)

BACKGROUND:

The Tropical and subtropical fruit, edible peel proposal was initiated at the USDA/IR-4 

Crop Grouping Symposium in Washington, DC, October 2002. This workgroup was Chaired by 

Michael Braverman (IR-4) and Co-Chaired by Jonathan Crane (University of Florida), Edith 

Lurvey (IR-4), Nancy Dodd (EPA), Will Donovan (EPA), and Maria Rodriguez (EPA). 

This new crop group was further discussed and developed within the Tropical Fruit, 

Edible Peel Workgroup of the International Crop Grouping Consulting Committee (ICGCC), 

which consisted of 62 U.S. crop or regulatory experts from agriculture commodity groups, 
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universities, agrichemical industry, IR-4 Project, USDA, EPA, and also 33 international crop or 

regulatory experts representing over 30 countries. 

An important aspect of developing this new crop group is the harmonization effort with 

the Codex Crop Classification of Foods and Animal Feeds. The Codex classification system is 

currently under revision also with many proposed tropical and subtropical fruit additions. The 

IR-4/EPA Crop Grouping Working Group and the ICGCC are collaborating with the revision of 

the Codex crop classification. In the current Codex Crop Classification of Foods and Animal 

Feeds, Assorted Tropical and Subtropical Fruits – Edible peel are included in Group 005 and 

classified in Type 01 Fruits. The IR-4/ICGCC submission was forwarded to the Codex 

Electronic Working Group for the revision of the Codex Classification of Foods and Animal 

Feeds. This submission also includes many of the recently proposed additions of tropical fruits, 

edible peel to the Codex classification. The inclusion of tropical fruits with edible peels will 

ultimately benefit US growers in exporting commodities that would have Codex MRL’s 

established based on a harmonized tropical and subtropical fruits, edible peel crop group. 

Fruits that will be processed primarily into juice, jams, jelly or wine were also included in 

the edible peel crop group since it was assumed that pesticide residues could contaminate the 

commodity during processing. Examples include (1) açaí, which is soaked in water to soften the 

outer shell; (2) arazá, which is rarely eaten raw due to its acidity and is mostly prepared into a 

juice or jelly; (3) red bayberry, which has a knobby surface and is prepared into juice, sweets, 

jam and wine; (4) bilimbi, which is extremely acidic/sour and is usually not eaten raw, but is 

soaked and boiled to make jam, jelly and beverages and (5) patauá, which is soaked before it is 

eaten to soften the pulp. 

Palm commodities are proposed to be classified in a separate subgroup based on the 

botanical similarity of trees in the family Arecaceae (alt. Palmae). Generally, trees within the 

palm family contain a tall, unbranched stem that can reach 80 meters in height, a rosette of 

leathery, evergreen palmate (fan-like) to pinnate (feather-like) spirally arranged leaves that 

measure several meters long, spike or branched inflorescences, and berry or drupe fruit. In most 

palms, fruit is produced in clusters that hang from the tree. Because fruit is produced in clusters 

that are partially exposed to the elements and fruit is located considerably higher on palm trees 

than other tropical and subtropical fruits, similar use patterns of pesticide applications are 

expected to occur and similar residue patterns can be expected within the palm group. 

Thirteen proposed tropical fruits with an edible peel (abrico-da-praia, bacupari, bacuparido-campo, cambuci, curriola, guabiju, jacaratia, jua, mama-cadela, marmelada, per-do-cerrado, 

Puerto Rican guava and sorva) were rejected from consideration from the crop group either 

because there was not enough information available to properly classify them into crop groups 

and subgroups or they are still rarely cultivated.

Tables 27, 28, 29, and 30 of this analysis (in separate report), compare the existing U.S., 

and Codex tolerances established on Tropical and Subtropical Fruits with an edible peel. Most 

of the proposed additions to the Codex Classification have been included in the US proposed 

new crop group. The majority of these tolerances are U.S. tolerances and it should be noted that 
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over half of the U.S. tolerances are tolerances for those commodities that are included in the 

guava edible peel crop definition as follows: 

General 

commodity 

Specific Commodities Included in 

Definition Comments 

Guava Guava, feijoa, jaboticaba, wax jambu, 

starfruit, passionfruit, acerola

Primarily edible peel; note/peel rarely contaminates 

Passiflora spp. during juicing

The proposed representative crop for subgroup 23A (small fruits, edible peel) is olive and 

olive has the majority of tolerances compared to other proposed member crops, acerola and wax 

jambu. The same trend follows for the proposed representative crops for subgroup 23B (medium 

to large fruit) with the majority of tolerances listed for fig and guava compared to ambarella, 

feijoa, jaboticaba and persimmon. The only tolerances listed for subgroup 23C are for date, the 

proposed representative commodity. 

Table 3 Tropical and Subtropical Fruit, Edible Peel Production in 2008 of this analysis 

(in separate report) shows the production (2008) of Tropical and Subtropical fruits, edible peel 

from the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) website. The world 

total hectares for carob, cashew fruit (called cashew apple), date, fig, guava, and olive are over 

17,737,858 hectares (ha) in 2008, and the total production of these fruits has grown to over 

62,762,678 metric tons in 2008 (FAO 2008). Note that the proposed representative crops for the 

new US Tropical and Subtropical, edible peel crop group are all included in the data reported by 

the FAO. 

The proposed Tropical and Subtropical fruits, edible peel; crop group consists of a 

diverse group of plants from many plant families. Within this group, fruit size of tropical and 

subtropical fruits with edible peels ranged from the fruit of chirauli-nut fruit,(Buchanania 

latifolia Roxb.) with an diameter of 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) to the babaco fruit, (Vasconcellea x 

heilbornii (V. M. Badillo) V. M. Badillo) with a diameter of 8 inches (20.3 cm). In addition to 

size, the texture of tropical and subtropical fruit also varies from a thin smooth peel to a peel 

with fine hairs or pubescence. 

Many publications have documented the relationship between surface area and mass of a 

commodity (Maclachlan, D.J. and D. Hamilton, 2010; B.D. Ripley, G.M. Ritcey, R. Harris, M.A. 

Denomme, L. Lissemore, 2003; F. Matsumura, G.M. Boush, T. Misato, eds., 1972; and B. 

Schneider, 2002). In general, the smaller the fruit, the larger the ratio of surface area to weight 

becomes. For example, pesticide deposits on grapes can be expected to be about 3X the 

pesticide deposit on apples due to the higher surface area per unit weight (Bates, 1990). Nonbell 

peppers are also often cited as an example. Because of their size, they normally have a higher 

residue than bell peppers with the same good agricultural practices (GAP) and are likely to drive 

a tolerance or MRL for peppers. There is also indication that surface area/mass ratio plays a 

more important role on pesticide deposits than pubescence/serration present on surfaces 

(Sundaram, 1991). 
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To classify Tropical and Subtropical fruits into groups (edible versus inedible peel) and 

subgroups, Excel spreadsheets were developed to be able to sort commodities with common 

characteristics. These spreadsheets include information regarding the common name, scientific 

name, taxonomic family name, production in the US, fruit shape, maximum radius (cm) and 

maximum height (cm) from the literature, calculated volume, calculated surface area, surface 

area to mass (volume) ratio, texture description and peel texture. These spreadsheets allowed the 

sorting of commodities into small versus medium to large fruit and smooth peel versus a rough 

or hairy peel. Fruits described in the literature as small fruit generally had a surface area/mass 

(volume) ratio of >1.5:1; so this criteria was used to separate small versus medium to large fruit 

(surface area/mass (volume) ratio of ≤1.5:1). 

Since sorting the spreadsheets into both fruit size (surface area/mass (volume) ratio) and 

peel texture resulted in subgroups that could not be supported by an appropriate representative 

commodity (lack of production in the U.S.), so this scheme was rejected. However, sorting the 

commodities into fruit size (small versus medium to large fruit) based on the surface area to mass 

(volume) ratio, with the addition of a palm subgroup resulted in the proposed crop grouping 

scheme.

Based on above background and the input from the International Crop Grouping 

Consulting Committee (ICGCC), IR-4 and the ICGCC propose that the Tropical and Subtropical 

Fruits, Edible Peel be established as a new crop group with three subgroups: (1) Subgroup 23A -

Tropical and Subtropical, Small Fruits, Edible Peel; (2) Subgroup 23B - Tropical and 

Subtropical, Medium to Large Fruits, Edible Peel Subgroup, and (3) Subgroup 23C - Tropical 

and Subtropical Palm Fruits, Edible Peel Subgroup. 

Selection of representative commodities are based on a representative commodity that is 

most likely to: (1) contain the highest residues; (2) be major in terms of production and/or 

consumption and (3) similar in morphology, growth habit, pest problems and edible portion to 

the related commodities within a group or subgroup. Based on these criteria, one representative 

commodity is proposed (olive) for Subgroup 23A; two representative commodities (fig and 

guava) are proposed for Subgroup 23B and one representative commodity (date) is proposed for 

Subgroup 23C. 

HED RECOMMENDATIONS:

Each of the IR-4 proposals and HED recommendations will be discussed below, followed 

by a series of other recommendations on terminology, database development, and harmonization 

with Codex. The EPA would like to commend the valuable and high quality input of the 

ICGCC, all its members, and the Committee Chairperson Bill Barney, USDA IR-4, and Kathryn 

Homa, Assistant Coordinator, USDA IR-4 for her research and high quality and comprehensive 

monographs that were used to develop the IR-4 proposal. We also want to commend Dr. YuenShaung Ng, Biologist, HED, Andrew Ertman, Sidney Jackson, and Laura Nollen, Biologists, RD, 

EPA for their input and development of various databases in this report and Dr. Paul Schwartz, 

USDA, Office of Minor Use Pesticides for his advice, peer review, and research office location.
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IR-4 Proposals 1 and 2:

1. “Establish a new crop group in 40 CFR 180.41 (c) as “Tropical and Subtropical Fruits, Edible 

Peel”.

And

2.”Add the following 108 commodities to this new crop group”:

See the list of 108 proposed commodities for this crop group under the Action Requested 

Section Proposal 2.”

HED Recommendation for IR-4 Proposals 1 and 2:

We agree with the IR-4 scientific approach and logic used in developing this crop group 

and the three crop subgroups. Specifically the development of the proposed Tropical and 

Subtropical fruits, edible peel, crop group consists of a diverse group of plants from many plant 

families, with a wide range of fruit sizes with edible peel and in addition to size, the texture of 

tropical and subtropical fruit also varies from a thin smooth peel to a peel with fine hairs or 

pubescence. Sorting the commodities into fruit size (small versus medium to large fruit) based 

on the surface area to mass (volume) ratio, with the addition of a palm subgroup is a logical

scheme.

Based on similarities in fruit size and having an edible peel, cultural practices, 

geographical distribution, lack of animal feed items, comparison of available established 

tolerances, and pest problems, and for international harmonization purposes, I recommend that 

ChemSAC concur to establish a new Tropical and Subtropical edible peel crop group with 107 

commodities and three crop subgroups. Chinese jujube will not be included since it has become 

member of Crop group Stone Fruit Group 12-12. 

Adding these commodities into a group will benefit the growers by enabling tools for 

crop protection. Some “minor orphan” tropical fruit commodities have become more popular in 

some countries and areas today than they were 10 years ago, such as the açaí and noni. Increased 

globalization of cooking in the United States has resulted in different fruits to be enjoyed 

worldwide. Some of these “minor” fruits have great potential to be grown on a larger scale in 

some areas in the future due to their unique nutritional and medicinal values. Being excluded 

from the crop groups, means that tolerances requested for these commodities would have to be 

established based on separate residue studies. A crop group regulation would benefit growers 

and consumers, save considerable taxpayer’s money on residue studies, save time for 

government agencies on review of residue data and facilitate the establishment of import 

tolerances. 

In addition, after IR-4 submitted this petition an additional tropical fruit called Borojó 

(Borojoa patinoi Cuatrec.) was submitted by Panama to the ICGCC as a crop to be included as 
10

an edible peel tropical fruit. This crop is currently being produced on over 3,000 ha in South 

America and has been increasing in popularity. After reviewing information on this crop, I can 

recommend adding it to the commodities proposed for this crop group. 

The following Table is a list of the proposed commodities and the scientific names of the 

108 commodities were also updated and are listed below. 

“HED Corrected Proposed Tropical and Subtropical Fruit – Edible Peel 23.”

Commodities

Açaí, Euterpe oleracea Mart.

Acerola, Malpighia emarginata DC.

African plum, Vitex doniana Sweet

Agritos, Berberis trifoliolata Moric.

Almondette, Buchanania lanzan Spreng.

Ambarella, Spondias dulcis Sol. ex Parkinson

Apak palm, Brahea dulcis (Kunth) Mart.

Appleberry, Billardiera scandens Sm.

Arazá, Eugenia stipitata McVaugh

Arbutus berry, Arbutus unedo L.

Babaco, Vasconcellea x heilbornii (V. M. Badillo) V. M. Badillo

Bacaba palm, Oenocarpus bacaba Mart.

Bacaba-de-leque, Oenocarpus distichus Mart.

Bayberry, Red, Morella rubra Lour.

Bignay, Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng.

Bilimbi, Averrhoa bilimbi L.

Borojó, Borojoa patinoi Cuatrec.

Breadnut, Brosimum alicastrum Sw.

Cabeluda, Plinia glomerata (O. Berg) Amshoff

Cajou, fruit, Anacardium giganteum Hance ex Engl.

Cambucá, Marlierea edulis Nied.

Carandas-plum, Carissa edulis Vahl

Carob, Ceratonia siliqua L.

Cashew apple, Anacardium occidentale L.

Ceylon iron wood, Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard

Ceylon olive, Elaeocarpus serratus L.

Cherry-of-the-Rio-Grande, Eugenia aggregata (Vell.) Kiaersk.

Chinese olive, black, Canarium tramdenum C. D. Dai& Yakovlev

Chinese olive, white, Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch.

Chirauli-nut, Buchanania latifolia Roxb.

Ciruela verde, Bunchosia armeniaca (Cav.) DC.

Cocoplum, Chrysobalanus icaco L.

Date, Phoenix dactylifera L.

Davidson's plum, Davidsonia pruriens F. Muell.

Desert-date, Balanites aegyptiacus (L.) Delile

Doum palm coconut, Hyphaene thebaica (L.) Mart.

False sandalwood, Ximenia americana L.

Feijoa, Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) Burret

Fig, Ficus carica L.

Fragrant Manjack, Cordia dichotoma G. Forst.

Gooseberry, Abyssinian, Dovyalis abyssinica (A. Rich.) Warb.
11

Commodities

Gooseberry, Ceylon, Dovyalis hebecarpa (Gardner) Warb.

Gooseberry, Indian, Phyllanthus emblica L.

Gooseberry, Otaheite, Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels

Governor's plum, Flacourtia indica (Burm. F.) Merr.

Grumichama, Eugenia brasiliensis Lam

Guabiroba, Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg

Guava, Psidium guajava L.

Guava berry, Myrciaria floribunda (H. West ex Willd.) O. Berg

Guava, Brazilian, Psidium guineense Sw.

Guava, Cattley, Psidium cattleianum Sabine

Guava, Costa Rican, (Psidium friedrichsthalianum (O. Berg) Nied.)

Guava, Para, Psidium acutangulum DC.

Guava, purple strawberry, Psidium cattleianum Sabine var. cattleianum

Guava, strawberry, Psidium cattleianum Sabine var. littorale (Raddi) Fosberg

Guava, yellow strawberry, Psidium cattleianum Sabine var. cattleianum forma lucidum O. Deg.

Guayabillo, (Psidium sartorianum (O. Berg) Nied.

Illawarra plum, Podocarpus elatus R. Br. Ex Endl.

Imbé, Garcinia livingstonei T. Anderson

Imbu, Spondias tuberosa Arruda ex Kost.

Indian-plum, Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.). (basionym)

Jaboticaba, Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.) O. Berg

Jamaica-cherry, Muntingia calabura L.

Jambolan, Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels

Jelly palm, Butia capitata (Mart.) Becc.

Jujube, Indian, Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.

Kaffir-plum, Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh. Ex C. Krauss

Kakadu plum, Terminalia latipes Benth. Subsp. psilocarpa Pedley

Kapundung, Baccaurea racemosa (Reinw.) Mull. Arg.

Karanda, Carissa carandas L.

Kwai muk, Artocarpus hypargyreus Hance ex Benth.

Lemon aspen, Acronychia acidula F. Muell,

Mangaba, Hancornia speciosa Gomes

Marian plum, Bouea macrophylla Griff.

Mombin, Malayan, Spondias pinnata (J. Koenig ex L. f.) Kurz

Mombin, purple, Spondias purpurea L.

Mombin, yellow, Spondias mombin L.

Monkeyfruit, Artocarpus lacucha Buch.-Ham.

Monos plum, Pseudanamomis umbellulifera (Kunth) Kausel

Mountain cherry, Bunchosia cornifolia Kunth

Nance, Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth

Natal plum, Carissa macrocarpa (Eckl.) A.DC

Noni, Morinda citrifolia L.

Olive, Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea

Papaya, Mountain, Vasconcellea pubescens A. DC.

Patauá, Oenocarpus bataua Mart.

Peach palm, fruit, Bactris gasipaes Kunth var. gasipaes

Persimmon, black, Diospyros texana Scheele

Persimmon, Japanese, Diospyros kaki Thunb.

Pitomba, Eugenia luschnathiana Klotzsch ex O. Berg

Plum-of-Martinique, Flacourtia inermis Roxb.

Pomerac, Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry

Rambai, Baccaurea motleyana (Mull. Arg.) Mull. Arg.
12

Commodities

Rose apple, Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston

Rukam, Flacourtia rukam Zoll. & Moritizi

Rumberry, Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) Mc Vaugh, (Myrtaceae)

Sea grape, Coccoloba uvifera (L.) L.

Sentul, Sandoricum koetjape (Burm. F.) Merr.

Sete-capotes, Campomanesia guazumifolia (Cambess.) O. Berg

Silver aspen, Acronychia wilcoxian, (F. Muell.) T.G. Hartley

Starfruit, Averrhoa carambola L

Surinam cherry, Eugenia uniflora L.

Tamarind, Tamarindus indica L.

Uvalha, Eugenia pyriformis Cambess 

Water apple, Syzygium aqueum (Burm. F.) Alston

Water pear, Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC

Water berry, Syzygium cordatum Hochst. Ex C. Krauss

Wax jambu, Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L.M.Perry

Cultivars, varieties, and hybrids of these commodities.

Additional notes: 

 HED also recommends changing the preferred commodity name for Cashew (pseudofruit) to 

Cashew apple, which is the commodity name, used in commerce. 

 The commodity Peach palm change to Peach palm, fruit to distinguish from the Peach palm, nut 

that is a member in the Tree nut crop group.

 Similarly Cajou, pseudofruit should be changed to Cajou, fruit to distinguish from the Cajou, nut 

which is a member in the Tree nut crop group.

 HED also recommends that in the crop group table the term “varieties and/or hybrids of these” 

should be changed to, “Cultivars, varieties, and hybrids of these commodities” to avoid all 

confusion with terminology regarding whether they are cultivars, varieties, or hybrids of the 

tropical fruit edible peel commodities. 

IR-4 Proposal 3:

3. “Recommend the following four proposed commodities: Olive, fig, guava, and date to be 

representative commodities for the new crop group.”

HED Recommendation for IR-4 Proposal 3:

I recommend ChemSAC concur to add olive, fig, guava, and date as representative 

commodities for the new Tropical and subtropical fruit –edible peel Crop Group 23. These 

representative commodities account for > 95% of the harvested U.S. acres for the members of 

the new crop group. The representative commodities are based on similarities in fruit surface 

area, edible portions, and cultural practices and geographical locations, pest problems, as well as 

their high production (both acres and yield) and consumption. Comparison of the established 

tolerances on these commodities will support that residue levels will adequately cover the wide 

number of commodities. 
13

Selection of representative commodities are based on a representative commodity that is 

most likely to: (1) contain the highest residues; (2) be major in terms of production and/or 

consumption and (3) similar in morphology, growth habit, pest problems and edible portion to 

the related commodities within a group or subgroup. Based on these criteria, one representative 

commodity is proposed (olive) for Subgroup 23A; two representative commodities (fig and 

guava) are proposed for Subgroup 23B and one representative commodity (date) is proposed for 

Subgroup 23C. Established tolerances for the proposed tropical fruit edible peel representative 

commodities are discussed in the “comparison of potential residue levels in the tropical and 

subtropical fruit-edible peel section of this analysis, and compare the existing U.S. and Codex 

tolerances.

IR-4 Proposal 4:

4. “Add the following three tropical and subtropical crop subgroups:

Subgroup 23A. Tropical and Subtropical, Small Fruits, Edible Peel Subgroup

Proposed Representative Crop: Olive

Subgroup 23B. Tropical and Subtropical, Medium to Large Fruits, Edible Peel Subgroup

Proposed Representative Crops: Fig and Guava

Subgroup 23C. Tropical and Subtropical Palm Fruits, Edible Peel Subgroup

Proposed Representative Crop: Date

These subgroups would contain the following commodities:

Subgroup 23A: Tropical and Subtropical, Small Fruits, Edible Peel Subgroup –

Proposed Representative Crop: Olive

There are fifty-six commodities proposed for this subgroup and include:

Acerola; African plum; Agritos; Almondette; Appleberry; Arbutus berry; Bayberry, Red; 

Bignay; Breadnut; Cabeluda; Carandas-plum; Ceylon iron wood; Ceylon olive; Cherry-of-theRio-Grande; Chinese olive, black; Chinese olive, white; Chirauli-nut; Cocoplum; Desert-date; 

False sandalwood; Fragrant Manjack; Gooseberry, Abyssinian; Gooseberry, Ceylon; 

Gooseberry, Otaheite; Governor’s plum; Grumichama; Guabiroba; Guava berry; Guava, 

Brazilian; Guava, Costa Rican; Guayabillo; Illawarra plum; Indian-plum; Jamaica-cherry; 

Jambolan; Kaffir-plum; Kakadu plum; Kapundung; Karnada; Lemon aspen; Mombin, yellow; 

Monos plum; Mountain cherry; Olive; Persimmon, Black; Pitomba; Plum-of-Martinique; 

Rukam; Rumberry; Sea grape; Sete-capotes; Silver aspen; Water apple; Water pear; Water berry; 

Wax jambu.

Subgroup 23B: Tropical and Subtropical, Medium to Large Fruits, Edible Peel Subgroup

Proposed Representative Crops: Fig and Guava
14

There are forty-three commodities proposed for this subgroup and include:

Ambarella; Arazá; Babaco; Bilimbi; Borojó, Cajou (pseudofruit); Cambucá; Carob; 

Cashew (pseudofruit); Ciruela verde; Davidson’s plum; Feijoa; Fig; Gooseberry, Indian; Guava; 

Guava, Cattley, Guava, Para; Guava, purple strawberry; Guava, strawberry; Guava, yellow 

strawberry; Imbé; Imbu; Jaboticaba; Jujube, Indian; Kwai muk; Mangaba; Marian plum; 

Mombin, Malayan; Mombin, purple; Monkeyfruit; Nance; Natal plum; Noni; Papaya, Mountain; 

Persimmon, Japanese; Pomerac; Rambai; Rose apple; Sentul; Starfruit; Surinam cherry; 

Tamarind; Uvalha.

Subgroup 23C. Tropical and Subtropical Palm Fruits, Edible Peel Subgroup

Proposed Representative Crop: Date

There are nine commodities proposed for this subgroup and include:

Açaí; Apak palm; Bacaba palm; Bacaba-de-leque; Date; Doum palm coconut; Jelly palm; 

Patauá; Peach palm.

HED Recommendation for IR-4 Proposal 4:

Sorting the spreadsheets into both fruit size (surface area/mass (volume) ratio) and also 

peel texture resulted in subgroups that could not be supported by an appropriate representative 

commodity (lack of production in the U.S.) scheme was rejected, however, sorting into fruit size 

(small versus medium to large fruit) based on the surface area to mass (volume) ratio, with the 

addition of a palm subgroup resulted in this logical proposed crop subgrouping scheme. Using 

calculated surface area, surface area to mass (volume) ratio, and a peel texture description, 

sorting commodities into small versus medium to large fruit resulted in small fruit generally

having a surface area/mass (volume) ratio of >1.5:1; and this allowed a separation of the two 

subgroups into small versus medium to large fruit with a surface area/mass (volume) ratio of 

≤1.5:1. 

Again, the selection of representative commodities are based on a representative 

commodity that is most likely to: (1) contain the highest residues; (2) be major in terms of 

production and/or consumption and (3) similar in morphology, growth habit, pest problems and 

edible portion to the related commodities within a group or subgroup, and (4) having production 

in the U.S. Based on these criteria, we agree with one representative commodity olive for

Subgroup 23A; two representative commodities fig and guava for Subgroup 23B and one 

representative commodity date for Subgroup 22C. Some “minor orphan” tropical fruit 

commodities have become more popular in some countries and areas today than they were 10 

years ago, such as the açaí and noni. Increased globalization of cooking in the United States has 

resulted in different fruits to be enjoyed worldwide. Commodity terminology has also been 

updated for the three crop subgroups as follows:
15

1). Subgroup 23A: Tropical and Subtropical, Small Fruit, Edible Peel Subgroup - Proposed 

Representative Crop: Olive

There are fifty-six commodities proposed for this subgroup and include:

Acerola; African plum; Agritos; Almondette; Appleberry; Arbutus berry; Bayberry, Red; 

Bignay; Breadnut; Cabeluda; Carandas-plum; Ceylon iron wood; Ceylon olive; Cherry-of-theRio-Grande; Chinese olive, black; Chinese olive, white; Chirauli-nut; Cocoplum; Desert-date; 

False sandalwood; Fragant Manjack; Gooseberry, Abyssinian; Gooseberry, Ceylon; Gooseberry, 

Otaheite; Governor’s plum; Grumichama; Guabiroba; Guava berry; Guava, Brazilian; Guava, 

Costa Rican; Guayabillo; Illawarra plum; Indian-plum; Jamaica-cherry Jambolan; Kaffir-plum; 

Kakadu plum; Kapundung; Karnada; Lemon aspen; Mombin, yellow; Monos plum; Mountain 

cherry; Olive; Persimmon, Black; Pitomba; Plum-of-Martinique; Rukam; Rumberry; Sea grape; 

Sete-capotes; Silver aspen; Water apple; Water pear; Water berry; Wax jambu.

2). Subgroup 23B: Tropical and Subtropical, Medium to Large Fruit, Edible Peel Subgroup -

Proposed Representative Crops: Fig and Guava.

There are forty-three commodities proposed for this subgroup and include:

Ambarella; Arazá; Babaco; Bilimbi; Borojó , Cajou, fruit; Cambucá; Carob; Cashew 

apple; Ciruela verde; Davidson’s plum; Feijoa; Fig; Gooseberry, Indian; Guava; Guava, Cattley, 

Guava, Para; Guava, purple strawberry; Guava, strawberry; Guava, yellow strawberry; Imbé; 

Imbu; Jaboticaba; Jujube, Indian; Kwai muk; Mangaba; Marian plum; Mombin, Malayan; 

Mombin, purple; Monkeyfruit; Nance; Natal plum; Noni; Papaya, Mountain; Persimmon, 

Japanese; Pomerac; Rambai; Rose apple; Sentul; Starfruit; Surinam cherry; Tamarind; Uvalha.

3) Subgroup 23C: Tropical and Subtropical Palm Fruit, Edible Peel Subgroup - Proposed 

Representative Crop: Date

There are nine commodities proposed for this subgroup and include:

Açaí; Apak palm; Bacaba palm; Bacaba-de-leque; Date; Doum palm coconut; Jelly palm; 

Patauá; Peach palm, fruit.

IR-4 Proposal 5:

5. “Add Commodity Definition [40 CFR 180.1 (g)] for Guava?”

The current crop definition for tropical and subtropical fruit with edible peel is proposed 

to be removed because the commodities will be included in crop subgroups.
16

General 

commodity 

Specific Commodities Included in 

Definition Comments 

Guava Guava, feijoa, jaboticaba, wax jambu, 

starfruit, passionfruit, acerola 

Primarily edible peel; note/peel rarely contaminates 

Passiflora spp. during juicing 

IR-4 is proposing a new crop definition is proposed for guava that includes many of the 

closely related genus (Psidium spp.), species and varieties. The following is the proposed crop 

definition for guava:

A B

Guava 

(Psidium guajava L.)

Guava (Psidium guajava L.); Guava, Para (Psidium acutangulum DC.); 

Guava, Brazilian (Psidium guineense Sw.); Guava, cattley (Psidium 

cattleianum Sabine); Guava, Costa Rican (Psidium friedrichsthalianum

(O. Berg) Nied.); Guava, purple strawberry (Psidium cattleianum Sabine 

var. cattleianum); Guava, strawberry (Psidium cattleianum Sabine var. 

littorale (Raddi) Fosberg); Guava, yellow strawberry; (Psidium 

cattleianum Sabine var. cattleianum forma lucidum O. Deg.); Guayabillo 

(Psidium sartorianum (O. Berg) Nied.)

HED Recommendation for IR-4 Proposal 5:

Currently, there is one Commodity Definitions for tropical fruits – edible peel for guava 

that was approved by the ChemSAC [40 CFR 180 (1) (g)] in 1998. The current crop definition 

for tropical and subtropical fruit with edible peel is proposed to be removed because the 

commodities will be included in the new crop subgroups, and passionfruit will be transferred to 

another new Tropical and subtropical fruit – inedible peel crop group 23 when it is analyzed. I 

recommend for ChemSAC to approve deleting the previously ChemSAC approved guava 

commodity definition under 40 CFR Part 180.1(g) because each of these commodities are listed 

separately as members of the new proposed Tropical and subtropical fruit – edible peel crop 

group. Also, a guava definition is no longer necessary since it is one of the proposed 

representative commodities for crop subgroup 23B, “Tropical and Subtropical, Medium to Large 

Fruit, Edible Peel Subgroup”. Since the guava, commodity definition has not been published 

in the Federal Register there is no issue deleting it. 

Additional HED Conclusions:

HED Conclusion 6:

Another important aspect of crop grouping is the harmonization effort with the Codex 

Classification of Foods and Animal Feeds. The proposed EPA crop group for Tropical and 

subtropical fruit group – edible peel is very similar to the corresponding Codex Assorted tropical 

and sub-tropical fruit group – edible peel. The Codex Group 005, assorted tropical and 

subtropical fruit group – edible peel (Crop Group 005), consists of twenty-eight commodities. 

Most of the Codex commodities are the same as those proposed by USDA IR-4 in this petition 

with certain exceptions. Kumquat (FT0289) and limequat (FT2324) are included in this Codex 
17

group but EPA has kumquat and limequat as part of the revised Citrus fruit group 10-10, since 

they are citrus fruits or a citrus fruit hybrid in the case of limequat. Carambola is called starfruit 

in the U.S. Tree tomato (FT0312) is now included in the EPA Fruiting vegetable group 8-10. 

There are five commodities proposed in the U.S. not yet in the Codex classification and these are 

agritos, cambuca, otaheite gooseberry, yellow mombin, and black persimmon. In addition, 

Codex has feijoa in its inedible peel tropical and sub-tropical inedible peel group while the US 

has its documented ad an edible peel fruit. A revision of the Codex Classification is underway

with consideration to include adding new commodities, creating subgroups, and selecting 

representative commodities. 

HED Conclusion 7:

Guidance for HED SOP 99.6 - “Classification of Food Forms with Respect to Level of 

Blending” issued August 20, 1999, and HED SOP 2000.1 – “Guidance for Translation of Field 

Trial Data from Representative Commodities in the Crop Group Regulation to Other 

Commodities in Each Crop Group/Subgroup” issued September 12, 2000 can be updated to 

reflect the new Tropical and Subtropical Fruit - Edible Peel Group 23. The updates are discussed 

in the HED SOP 2001 Section of this analysis.

HED Conclusion 8:

Guidance on expressing tolerance terminology for the new Tropical and subtropical fruit 

group - edible peel crop group 23 is discussed under the “Tolerance expression guidance section 

of this analysis. New lookup and preferred EPA terms for the members of the Tropical and 

subtropical fruit group - edible peel crop group are listed in the EPA Food and Feed Commodity

Vocabulary section of this report and these terms should be added to the updated EPA Food and 

Feed Commodity Vocabulary website (http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/foodfeed).