Which agency sets food tolerances for pesticides?

The agency responsible for setting food tolerances for pesticides is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA evaluates the safety of various pesticides and establishes legal limits, known as tolerances, for pesticide residues in food products. This process is essential to ensure that pesticide use does not pose a risk to human health or the environment.

The EPA's role involves reviewing scientific data on the toxicity of pesticides, potential exposure levels, and the overall effects of residual chemicals on consumers. Once the EPA sets tolerances, these limits guide both manufacturers in terms of safe usage levels and regulatory bodies in monitoring and enforcement of pesticide residues in food.

In contrast, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) primarily focuses on the safety and efficacy of food products, overseeing food labeling and inspections, but it does not set pesticide tolerances. The Department of Agriculture works on a broader level with agricultural policies and food production, while the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) deals with workplace safety and health regulations, not food safety or pesticide residues.