Document ID: EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0038-0007
Agency: epa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Pesticide Tolerances: Flonicamid
Posted Date: 2013-12-11T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 11, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 75262-75267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29576]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0038; FRL-9902-07]

Flonicamid; Pesticide Tolerances

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of 
flonicamid in or on multiple commodities which are identified and 
discussed later in this document. In two separate petitions, 
Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4) and ISK Biosciences 
Corporation (ISK) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

DATES: This regulation is effective December 11, 2013. Objections and 
requests for hearings must be received on or before February 10, 2014, 
and must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 
CFR part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

ADDRESSES: The docket for this action, identified by docket 
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0038, is available at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Office of Pesticide Programs Regulatory 
Public Docket (OPP Docket) in the Environmental Protection Agency 
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301 Constitution 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. The Public Reading Room is open 
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 
566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPP Docket is (703) 305-
5805. Please review the visitor instructions and additional information 
about the docket available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lois Rossi, Registration Division 
(7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone 
number: (703) 305-7090; email address: RDFRNotices@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an 
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. 
The following list of North American Industrial Classification System 
(NAICS) codes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them. 
Potentially affected entities may include:
     Crop production (NAICS code 111).
     Animal production (NAICS code 112).
     Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
     Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).

B. How can I get electronic access to other related information?

    You may access a frequently updated electronic version of EPA's 
tolerance regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through the Government 
Printing Office's e-CFR site at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40tab_02.tpl.

C. How can I file an objection or hearing request?

    Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21 U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an 
objection to any aspect of this regulation and may also request a 
hearing on those objections. You must file your objection or request a 
hearing on this regulation in accordance with the instructions provided 
in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify 
docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0038 in the subject line on the first 
page of your submission. All objections and requests for a hearing must 
be in writing, and must be received by the Hearing Clerk on or before 
February 10, 2014. Addresses for mail and hand delivery of objections 
and hearing requests are provided in 40 CFR 178.25(b).
    In addition to filing an objection or hearing request with the 
Hearing Clerk as described in 40 CFR part 178, please submit a copy of 
the filing (excluding any Confidential Business Information (CBI)) for 
inclusion in the public docket. Information not marked confidential 
pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be disclosed publicly by EPA without 
prior notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your objection or hearing 
request, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0038, by one of 
the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be CBI or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
     Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 
20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.

Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along 
with more information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

II. Summary of Petitioned-for Tolerance

    In the Federal Register of June 5, 2013 (78 FR 33785) (FRL-9386-2), 
EPA issued a document pursuant to FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C. 
346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a pesticide petition (PP 2E8137) 
by IR-4, 500 College Rd. East, Suite 201W., Princeton, NJ 08540. The 
petition requested that 40 CFR 180.613 be amended by establishing 
tolerances for residues of the insecticide flonicamid and its 
metabolites and degradates determined by measuring flonicamid (N-
(cyanomethyl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamide) and its 
metabolites TFNA (4-trifluoromethylnicotinic acid), TFNA-AM (4-
trifluoromethylnicotinamide), and TFNG (N-(4-
trifluoromethylnicotinoyl)glycine), calculated as the stoichiometric 
equivalent of flonicamid, in or on alfalfa, forage at 7.0 parts per 
million (ppm); alfalfa, hay at 0.20 ppm; alfalfa, seed at 1.5 ppm; 
clover, forage at 7.0 ppm; clover, hay at 4.0 ppm;

[[Page 75263]]

peppermint, tops at 7.0 ppm; spearmint, tops at 7.0 ppm; vegetable, 
fruiting, group 8-10 at 0.40 ppm; vegetable, cucurbit, group 9 at 1.5 
ppm; fruit, pome, group 11-10 at 0.20 ppm; and fruit, stone, group 12-
12 at 0.60 ppm. The petition also requested, upon the approval of the 
aforementioned tolerances, removal of the established tolerances for 
residues of the flonicamid in or on the following crop groups: 
Vegetable, fruiting, group 8; fruit, pome, group 11; fruit, stone, 
group 12; cucumber; and vegetable, cucurbit, group 9, except cucumber. 
That document referenced a summary of the petition prepared by ISK 
Biosciences Corporation, the registrant, which is available in the 
docket, http://www.regulations.gov. There were no comments received in 
response to the notice of filing.
    In addition, in the Federal Register of February 27, 2013 (78 FR 
13295) (FRL-9380-2), EPA issued a document pursuant to FFDCA section 
408(d)(3), 21 U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a pesticide 
petition (PP 2F8088) by ISK Biosciences Corporation, 7470 Auburn Rd., 
Suite A, Concord, OH 44077. The petition requested that 40 CFR 180.613 
be amended by establishing tolerances for residues of the insecticide, 
flonicamid (N-(cyanomethyl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamide) 
and its metabolites, TFNA (4-trifluoromethyl nicotinic acid), TFNA-AM 
(4- trifluoromethylnicotinamide), and TFNG (N-(4-trifluoro 
methylnicotinoyl)glycine), calculated as the stoichiometric equivalent 
of flonicamid, in or on tree, nuts, crop group 14-12 at 0.09 ppm; 
almond at 0.09 ppm; pecan at 0.04 ppm; and almond, hulls at 10.0 ppm. 
That document referenced a summary of the petition prepared by ISK 
Biosciences Corporation, the registrant, which is available in the 
docket, http://www.regulations.gov. There were no comments received in 
response to the notice of filing.
    Based upon review of the data supporting the petition, EPA has 
modified the levels at which tolerances are being established for some 
commodities and has determined not to establish tolerances for some of 
the requested commodities. The reason for these changes is explained in 
Unit IV.C.

III. Aggregate Risk Assessment and Determination of Safety

    Section 408(b)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA allows EPA to establish a 
tolerance (the legal limit for a pesticide chemical residue in or on a 
food) only if EPA determines that the tolerance is ``safe.'' Section 
408(b)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA defines ``safe'' to mean that ``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.'' This includes exposure through drinking water and in 
residential settings, but does not include occupational exposure. 
Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to give special 
consideration to exposure of infants and children to the pesticide 
chemical residue in establishing a tolerance and to ``ensure that there 
is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to infants and 
children from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue. . . 
.''
    Consistent with FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D), and the factors 
specified in FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D), EPA has reviewed the available 
scientific data and other relevant information in support of this 
action. EPA has sufficient data to assess the hazards of and to make a 
determination on aggregate exposure for flonicamid including exposure 
resulting from the tolerances established by this action. EPA's 
assessment of exposures and risks associated with flonicamid follows.

A. Toxicological Profile

    EPA has evaluated the available toxicity data and considered its 
validity, completeness, and reliability as well as the relationship of 
the results of the studies to human risk. EPA has also considered 
available information concerning the variability of the sensitivities 
of major identifiable subgroups of consumers, including infants and 
children.
    In the 28-day dermal study with flonicamid technical, no dermal or 
systemic toxicity was seen at the limit dose. In oral studies using 
rats and dogs, the kidney and liver are the target organs for 
flonicamid toxicity. Increased kidney weight and hyaline droplet 
deposition were observed as well as liver centrilobular hypertrophy in 
the rat 28-day oral range-finding, 90-day oral, developmental, and 
reproductive studies. The 90-day dog study showed kidney tubular 
vacuolation as well as increased adrenal weights, increased 
reticulocytes and decreased thymus weights. Increased reticulocyte 
count was noted in both the subchronic and chronic dog studies.
    In rats, developmental effects including increased incidence of 
cervical ribs were observed at maternally toxic (liver and kidney gross 
and histopathological effects) dose levels. In rabbits, developmental 
effects were not observed at any dose level including maternally toxic 
doses. Offspring effects (decreased body weight and delayed sexual 
maturation) in the multi-generation study were seen only in the 
presence of parental toxicity (kidney effects in males, blood effects 
in females). Thus, there is no evidence that flonicamid results in 
increased susceptibility (qualitative or quantitative) in in utero rats 
or rabbits in the prenatal developmental studies or in young rats in 
the 2-generation reproduction study.
    There are no concerns for flonicamid neurotoxicity. Although 
clinical signs suggesting potential neurotoxic effects (e.g., decreased 
motor activity, tremors) were seen in the acute and subchronic 
neurotoxicity studies; other effects in these studies (e.g., increased 
mortality, and significant decreases in food consumption and body 
weight) indicated that the clinical signs were a result of the animals 
being in an extreme condition or otherwise compromised and in a state 
of general malaise. Also, these types of effects were not observed in 
the other subchronic or chronic studies in mice, rats or dogs. Thus, 
there is not clear evidence of neurotoxicity. Lastly, clear no-
observed-adverse-effect-levels (NOAELs) and lowest-observed-adverse 
effect-levels (LOAELs) were defined for the clinical signs, which are 
above the levels currently used for risk assessment purposes.
    A 28-day oral (dietary) immunotoxicity study of technical 
flonicamid in female CD-1 mice demonstrated that flonicamid is not an 
immuno-suppressant, either structurally or functionally up to and 
including dose levels exceeding the limit dose.
    Although there is some limited evidence suggesting that flonicamid 
has a potential for carcinogenic effects, EPA determined that 
quantification of risk using a non-linear approach (i.e., using a 
chronic reference dose (cRfD)) adequately accounts for all chronic 
toxicity, including carcinogenicity that could result from exposure to 
flonicamid. The following considerations support that determination. 
First, mutagenicity studies were negative for the parent chemical, 
flonicamid, and its metabolites, TFNA, TFNA-AM, TFNG, TFNG-AM, and 
TFNA-OH. Second, although flonicamid is carcinogenic in CD-1 mice, 
based on increased incidences of lung tumors associated with Clara cell 
activation, this tumor type is associated with species and strain 
sensitivity and is not directly correlated with cancer risks in humans. 
Third, nasal cavity tumors seen in male

[[Page 75264]]

Wistar rats were linked to incisor inflammation and not considered to 
be treatment related. These tumor findings were confounded by the lack 
of a dose response and the biological significance is questionable.
    Specific information on the studies received and the nature of the 
adverse effects caused by flonicamid as well as the NOAEL and the LOAEL 
from the toxicity studies can be found at http://www.regulations.gov in 
the document entitled ``Flonicamid--Human Health Risk Assessment for a 
Section 3 Registration of New Uses on Alfalfa and Clover Grown for 
Seed, Mint, Greenhouse Grown Tomatoes, and Tree Nuts,'' pp. 33-39 in 
docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0038.

B. Toxicological Points of Departure/Levels of Concern

    Once a pesticide's toxicological profile is determined, EPA 
identifies toxicological points of departure (POD) and levels of 
concern to use in evaluating the risk posed by human exposure to the 
pesticide. For hazards that have a threshold below which there is no 
appreciable risk, the toxicological POD is used as the basis for 
derivation of reference values for risk assessment. PODs are developed 
based on a careful analysis of the doses in each toxicological study to 
determine the dose at which no adverse effects are observed (the NOAEL) 
and the lowest dose at which adverse effects of concern are identified 
(the LOAEL). Uncertainty/safety factors are used in conjunction with 
the POD to calculate a safe exposure level--generally referred to as a 
population-adjusted dose (PAD) or a reference dose (RfD)--and a safe 
margin of exposure (MOE). For non-threshold risks, the Agency assumes 
that any amount of exposure will lead to some degree of risk. Thus, the 
Agency estimates risk in terms of the probability of an occurrence of 
the adverse effect expected in a lifetime. For more information on the 
general principles EPA uses in risk characterization and a complete 
description of the risk assessment process, see http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/riskassess.htm.
    A summary of the toxicological endpoints for flonicamid used for 
human risk assessment is discussed in Unit III.B. of the final rule 
published in the Federal Register of November 14, 2012 (77 FR 67771) 
(FRL-9368-7).

C. Exposure Assessment

    1. Dietary exposure from food and feed uses. In evaluating dietary 
exposure to flonicamid, EPA considered exposure under the petitioned-
for tolerances as well as all existing flonicamid tolerances in 40 CFR 
180.613. EPA assessed dietary exposures from flonicamid in food as 
follows:
    i. Acute exposure. Quantitative acute dietary exposure and risk 
assessments are performed for a food-use pesticide, if a toxicological 
study has indicated the possibility of an effect of concern occurring 
as a result of a 1-day or single exposure. No such effects were 
identified in the toxicological studies for flonicamid; therefore, a 
quantitative acute dietary exposure assessment is unnecessary.
    ii. Chronic exposure. In conducting the chronic dietary exposure 
assessment EPA used the food consumption data from the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, What 
We Eat in America, (NHANES/WWEIA). As to residue levels in food, the 
chronic dietary exposure assessment was a conservative assessment, 
conducted using tolerance-level residues and 100 percent crop treated 
(PCT).
    iii. Cancer. Based on the data summarized in Unit III.A., EPA has 
concluded that a nonlinear RfD approach is appropriate for assessing 
cancer risk to flonicamid. Cancer risk was assessed using the same 
exposure estimates as discussed in Unit III.C.1.ii.
    iv. Anticipated residue and PCT information. EPA did not use 
anticipated residue and/;or PCT information in the dietary assessment 
for flonicamid. Tolerance level residues and 100 PCT were assumed for 
all food commodities.
    2. Dietary exposure from drinking water. The Agency used screening 
level water exposure models in the dietary exposure analysis and risk 
assessment for flonicamid in drinking water. These simulation models 
take into account data on the physical, chemical, and fate/;transport 
characteristics of flonicamid. Further information regarding EPA 
drinking water models used in pesticide exposure assessment can be 
found at http://;www.epa.gov/;oppefed1/;models/;water/;index.htm.
    The drinking water assessment was conducted using a parent only and 
total toxic residues of flonicamid (TTR) approach. Total toxic residues 
include TFNA, TFNA-AM, TFNA-OH, TFNG, and TFNG-AM.
    Based on the Pesticide Root Zone Model/;Exposure Analysis Modeling 
System (PRZM/;EXAMS) and Screening Concentration in Ground Water (SCI-
GROW) models, the estimated drinking water concentrations (EDWCs) of 
total toxic residues of flonicamid for chronic exposures for non-cancer 
assessments are estimated to be 0.94 parts per billion (ppb) for 
surface water and 9.92 ppb for ground water.
    Modeled estimates of drinking water concentrations were directly 
entered into the dietary exposure model. For chronic dietary risk 
assessment, the water concentration of value 9.92 ppb was used to 
assess the contribution to drinking water.
    3. From non-dietary exposure. The term ``residential exposure'' is 
used in this document to refer to non-occupational, non-dietary 
exposure (e.g., for lawn and garden pest control, indoor pest control, 
termiticides, and flea and tick control on pets). Flonicamid is not 
registered for any specific use patterns that would result in 
residential exposure.
    4. Cumulative effects from substances with a common mechanism of 
toxicity. Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of FFDCA requires that, when 
considering whether to establish, modify, or revoke a tolerance, the 
Agency consider ``available information'' concerning the cumulative 
effects of a particular pesticide's residues and ``other substances 
that have a common mechanism of toxicity.''
    EPA has not found flonicamid to share a common mechanism of 
toxicity with any other substances, and flonicamid does not appear to 
produce a toxic metabolite produced by other substances. For the 
purposes of this tolerance action, therefore, EPA has assumed that 
flonicamid does not have a common mechanism of toxicity with other 
substances. For information regarding EPA's efforts to determine which 
chemicals have a common mechanism of toxicity and to evaluate the 
cumulative effects of such chemicals, see EPA's Web site at http://
;www.epa.gov/;pesticides/;cumulative.

D. Safety Factor for Infants and Children

    1. In general. Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA provides that EPA 
shall apply an additional tenfold (10X) margin of safety for infants 
and children in the case of threshold effects to account for prenatal 
and postnatal toxicity and the completeness of the database on toxicity 
and exposure unless EPA determines based on reliable data that a 
different margin of safety will be safe for infants and children. This 
additional margin of safety is commonly referred to as the Food Quality 
Protection Act Safety Factor (FQPA SF). In applying this provision, EPA 
either retains the default value of 10X, or uses a different additional 
SF when reliable data

[[Page 75265]]

available to EPA support the choice of a different factor.
    2. Prenatal and postnatal sensitivity. The prenatal and postnatal 
toxicity database for flonicamid includes prenatal developmental 
toxicity studies in rats and rabbits and a multi-generation 
reproduction toxicity study in rats. There is no evidence that 
flonicamid results in increased susceptibility (qualitative or 
quantitative) in rats or rabbits exposed in utero in the prenatal 
developmental studies or in young rats in the multi-generation 
reproduction study. No developmental effects were seen in rabbits. In 
the multi-generation reproduction study, developmental delays in the 
offspring (decreased body weights, delayed sexual maturation) were seen 
only in the presence of parental toxicity (kidney and blood effects). 
Also, there are clear NOAELs and LOAELs for all effects. The degree of 
concern for prenatal and/;or post-natal susceptibility is, therefore, 
low due to the lack of evidence of qualitative and quantitative 
susceptibility.
    3. Conclusion. EPA has determined that reliable data show the 
safety of infants and children would be adequately protected if the 
FQPA SF were reduced to 1X for chronic dietary and other exposures, 
except as noted below. That decision is based on the following 
findings:
    i. The toxicity database for flonicamid is complete except for a 
subchronic inhalation study. In the absence of a route specific 
inhalation study, EPA has retained a 10X FQPA SF to assess risks for 
inhalation exposure scenarios. However, residential inhalation 
exposures are not expected.
    ii. The available data base includes acute and subchronic 
neurotoxicity studies. As discussed in Unit III.A., EPA has concluded 
that the clinical signs observed in those studies were not the result 
of a neurotoxic mechanism and that therefore a developmental 
neurotoxicity study is not required.
    iii. There was no evidence for quantitative or qualitative 
susceptibility following oral exposures to rats in utero or oral 
exposure to rabbits in utero.
    iv. There are no residual uncertainties identified in the exposure 
databases. An unrefined conservative chronic dietary exposure 
assessment for food and drinking water was conducted, assuming 
tolerance level residues for all existing and proposed commodities and 
100 PCT of registered and proposed crops. The drinking water assessment 
utilized water concentration values generated by models and associated 
modeling parameters which are designed to produce conservative, health 
protective, high-end estimates of water concentrations which are not 
likely to be exceeded. The dietary (food and drinking water) exposure 
assessment does not underestimate the potential exposure for infants, 
children, or women of child bearing age.

E. Aggregate Risks and Determination of Safety

    EPA determines whether acute and chronic dietary pesticide 
exposures are safe by comparing aggregate exposure estimates to the 
acute PAD (aPAD) and chronic PAD (cPAD). For linear cancer risks, EPA 
calculates the lifetime probability of acquiring cancer given the 
estimated aggregate exposure. Short-term, intermediate-term, and 
chronic-term risks are evaluated by comparing the estimated aggregate 
food, water, and residential exposure to the appropriate PODs to ensure 
that an adequate MOE exists.
    1. Acute risk. An acute aggregate risk assessment takes into 
account acute exposure estimates from dietary consumption of food and 
drinking water. No adverse effect resulting from a single oral exposure 
was identified and no acute dietary endpoint was selected. Therefore, 
flonicamid is not expected to pose an acute risk.
    2. Chronic risk. Using the exposure assumptions described in this 
unit for chronic exposure, EPA has concluded that chronic exposure to 
flonicamid from food and water will utilize 30% of the cPAD for 
children 1-2 years old, the population group receiving the greatest 
exposure. There are no residential uses for flonicamid.
    3. Short-term and intermediate-term risk. Short- term and 
intermediate-term aggregate exposure takes into account short-term and 
intermediate-term residential exposure plus chronic exposure to food 
and water (considered to be a background exposure level).
    Short-term and intermediate-term adverse effects were identified; 
however, flonicamid is not registered for any use patterns that would 
result in short-term or intermediate-term residential exposure. Short-
term and intermediate-term risk is assessed based on short-term and 
intermediate-term residential exposure plus chronic dietary exposure. 
Because there is no short-term or intermediate-term residential 
exposure and chronic dietary exposure has already been assessed under 
the appropriately protective cPAD (which is at least as protective as 
the POD used to assess short-term or intermediate-term risk), no 
further assessment of short-term or intermediate-term risk is 
necessary, and EPA relies on the chronic dietary risk assessment for 
evaluating short-term and intermediate-term risk for flonicamid.
    4. Aggregate cancer risk for U.S. population. Based on the 
discussion in Unit III.A., EPA has concluded that the cPAD is 
protective of possible cancer effects from flonicamid, and as evidenced 
in Unit III.E.2, aggregate exposure to flonicamid is below the cPAD.
    6. Determination of safety. Based on these risk assessments, EPA 
concludes that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result 
to the general population or to infants and children from aggregate 
exposure to flonicamid residues.

IV. Other Considerations

A. Analytical Enforcement Methodology

    Adequate enforcement methods are available to enforce the 
tolerances for flonicamid and the major metabolites in plants and 
livestock. The proposed method for plants uses liquid chromatography 
with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) (FMC No. P-3561M) to determine 
the residues of flonicamid and its major metabolites, TFNA-AM, TFNA, 
and TFNG. Three enforcement methods are used for livestock commodities:
    1. An LC/MS/MS method RCC No. 844743 for determination of residues 
in eggs, poultry tissues, and fat of cattle, goat, hog, horse, and 
sheep;
    2. LC/MS method RCC No. 842993 for determination of residues in 
milk; and
    3. LC/MS/MS method FMC No. P-3580, which includes an acid 
hydrolysis step, for determination of residues in meat and meat 
products (kidney and liver) of cattle, goat, hog, horse, and sheep. All 
three methods determine flonicamid and the metabolites OH-TFNA-AM, 
TFNA-AM, TFNG, and TFNA
    The method may be requested from: Chief, Analytical Chemistry 
Branch, Environmental Science Center, 701 Mapes Rd., Ft. Meade, MD 
20755-5350; telephone number: (410) 305-2905; email address: 
residuemethods@epa.gov.

B. International Residue Limits

    In making its tolerance decisions, EPA seeks to harmonize U.S. 
tolerances with international standards whenever possible, consistent 
with U.S. food safety standards and agricultural practices. EPA 
considers the international maximum residue limits (MRLs) established 
by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), as required by FFDCA 
section 408(b)(4). The Codex Alimentarius is a joint

[[Page 75266]]

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health 
Organization food standards program, and it is recognized as an 
international food safety standards-setting organization in trade 
agreements to which the United States is a party. EPA may establish a 
tolerance that is different from a Codex MRL; however, FFDCA section 
408(b)(4) requires that EPA explain the reasons for departing from the 
Codex level.
    The Codex has not established any MRLs for flonicamid.

C. Revisions to Petitioned-For Tolerances

    Based on the review of the residue data, EPA is modifying the 
proposed tolerance on alfalfa forage from 7.0 ppm to 10.0 ppm; alfalfa 
hay from 0.20 ppm to 1.0 ppm; almond hulls from 10.0 ppm to 9.0 ppm; 
and the tree nut group 14-12 from 0.09 ppm to 0.15 ppm. For alfalfa 
forage, the tolerance was calculated using 5x the mean of the field 
trial data instead of using the Organization for Economic Cooperation 
and Development (OECD) tolerance calculation procedures because there 
are only two field trials reflecting the proposed application rate and 
pre-harvest interval. For alfalfa hay, the level of quantitation (LOQ) 
was used since all residues were