Which type of tolerances does the EPA set for pesticides that indirectly contact food?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes negligible residue tolerances for pesticides that indirectly contact food. This type of tolerance is defined to allow for very minimal levels of pesticide residues that may occur as a result of indirect exposure. Such residues are considered to pose minimal risk to human health because they are present in low concentrations that are not expected to lead to adverse health effects when consumed.

With negligible residue tolerances, the focus is on ensuring consumer safety while allowing for the practical use of pesticides in agricultural practices. It takes into account the potential for residues to be present in food that may have come into contact with treated surfaces or environments, rather than direct application.

In contrast, the other types of tolerances—finite residue tolerances, experimental tolerances, and conditional tolerances—serve different purposes and are applied under specific circumstances that do not specifically address indirect exposure in the same way that negligible residue tolerances do.