EPA Seeks Public Comments On Timeline For Neonicotinoid Insecticide Tolerances Decision

DR. JULIE PETERSON

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that they are currently accepting public comments on a proposed settlement agreement related to a 2020 petition by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The proposed settlement would require the EPA to make a final decision no later than April 30, 2027, regarding the NRDC’s petition to revoke all tolerances for residues of five neonicotinoid insecticides on or in food. If residue tolerances for a given active ingredient are revoked, it means that any detectable trace on food or feed is illegal. This essentially means that this product cannot be used on food and feed crops. The five active ingredients of neonicotinoid insecticides included in the petition are: acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam.

What does this mean for Kentucky’s crop producers?

• First, a key point to keep in mind is that the EPA is not currently proposing to revoke these neonicotinoid food tolerances. Rather, the current proposal concerns a settlement agreement that would establish a deadline of April 30, 2027, for EPA to make a final decision on the NRDC’s petition requesting that tolerances be revoked.
• If the EPA were ultimately to revoke some or all of these tolerances, the decision could have implications for agricultural uses of these insecticides on food and feed crops. These active ingredients are currently used in a variety of crop production systems, including foliar, soil-applied, and seed-treatment uses. Some examples of commercial product names with these active ingredients include Assail, Belay, Venom, Scorpion, Admire Pro, Actara, and Platinum, as well as Poncho, Gaucho, and Cruiser seed treatments.
• For now, we are sharing this information for awareness and to let Kentucky agricultural producers and other stakeholders know about the opportunity to provide comments to the EPA. Comments may address the proposed settlement agreement and provide relevant information or considerations for EPA as it evaluates the agreement.
• Public comments are due by September 21, 2026 and can be submitted by going online to https://www.regulations.gov/ and then searching for the docket number: EPA-HQ-OGC-2026-6172. Select the blue box that says “Comment.”
• The full Federal Register Notice with more details and information can be found at http://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-20/html/2026-16938.htm   ∆

DR. JULIE PETTERSON

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY