If you have a good source for the 85 percent figure, I'd be interested in seeing it. Ten years ago, in the great debate over Alar, we raised the issue of reducing expectations for cosmetic perfection with the produce industries. That, combined with the fact that the industry is still in denial on the point that residues pose any health risk worth worrying about, has prevented any forward motion on what seems like a very sensible idea to you and me. I suspect that if strong FQPA implementation were to require cutbacks in insecticide uses that seriously hampered achieving the current cosmetic standards, the industry would then start thinking about whether the standards were the part of the system that could flex. But unless something like that happens, I think fear of change and the industry's firm belief that all residues are safe will keep the status quo pretty much locked in.
Cosmetic standards is an issue worth putting on the agenda for that discussion.
Thanks for the letter reminding us of its importance.