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Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA)

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FQPA Index

  1. What is FQPA?
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  2. Summary of EPA FQPA Implementation
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  3. Pesticides Perceived as Most Risky Due to the FQPA
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  4. Response to Farm Bureau Request for Information on Potential Impact of FQPA on South Carolina Farmers
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  5. Organophosphate Preliminary Risk Assessments - Organophosphates are a group of closely related pesticides that affect functioning of the nervous system. They are in the first priority group of pesticides to be reviewed under the Food Quality Protection Act. EPA is reviewing the allowable limits (tolerances) for pesticide residues in food. By August 2006, EPA will complete the review of all tolerances that were in effect in August 1996 when the Food Quality Protection Act was passed.
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  6. Selected FQPA-Related web sites
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Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA)

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       The pesticide reregistration program acquired significant new dimensions on August 3, 1996, when the Food Quality Protection Act was enacted. FQPA, which amends both FIFRA and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), establishes a new safety standard for pesticide residues in food and emphasizes protecting the health of infants and children.

       Under FQPA, all pesticide food uses must be "safe"; that is, EPA must be able to conclude with "reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure" to each pesticide from dietary and other sources. In determining allowable levels of pesticide residues in food, the Agency must conduct a comprehensive assessment of each pesticide's risks, considering:

       Within ten years of enactment of the new law, EPA must reassess all existing "tolerances" (maximum limits for pesticide residues in foods) and exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance, for both the active and inert ingredients in pesticide products. The Agency must consider the pesticides posing the greatest potential risks first, to ensure that they meet FQPA's new safety standard.

       EPA is using reregistration to accomplish tolerance reassessment, the cornerstone of the FQPA. Once reregistration is completed in about 2002, all pesticides will be re-examined periodically in the future through registration review. This new program created by FQPA requires EPA to review every registered pesticide on a suggested 15-year cycle.

       Looking to the future, then, the public will have assurance that all registered pesticides are being reviewed periodically and updated to meet current scientific and regulatory standards.

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Selected FQPA-Related web sites:

To obtain a free copy of Adobe Acrobat® Reader for viewing PDF files, please visit Adobe.

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  1. EPA's FQPA web site
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  2. Pesticide Tolerances - Tolerances are the maximum allowed level of pesticide residues in food.
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  3. Office of Pesticide Programs Biennial Report for 1998 and 1999 - EPA biennial pesticide report provides an overview of the initiatives and accomplishments achieved during 1998 and 1999 in implementing the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), and the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). These statutes, in part, are designed for environmental protection and assurance of a safe and healthy food supply. (1.7 MB, PDF).
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  4. Pesticides, Metals, Chemical Contaminants & Natural Toxins - U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. This site includes the FDA's annual pesticide residues in foods monitoring reports (1993-1999).
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  5. Crop Profiles - Crop pest management profiles. Crop Profiles Database from NSF Center for Integrated Pest Management. FQPA instructs USDA and EPA to obtain pesticide use and usage data on the major and minor crops. To help USDA and EPA obtain this type of information, "Crop Profiles" are being developed.
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  6. EPA's Pesticide Right-to-Know web site
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  7. Pesticides and Food - What you and your family need to know - a brochure produced by EPA to be distributed through grocery/supermarket chains. You can order this brochure from EPA.
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  8. EPA FQPA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee (TRAC)
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  9. Pesticide Reregistration Eligibility Decisions (REDs) - Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) documents contain the results of EPA's regulatory reviews of pesticides initially registered before November 1, 1984. Under the federal pesticide law FIFRA, EPA must review the human health and environmental effects of these older pesticide active ingredients and determine whether they are eligible for reregistration. To be "eligible", a pesticide must be found not to cause unreasonable risks to people or the environment when used in accordance with its approved labeling. All registered pesticides also must meet the safety standard of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). Under this new law, EPA must consider the potential for increased susceptibility of infants and children to the toxic effects of pesticides. REDs and fact sheets are presented in PDF format.
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  10. NPIC's Guide to the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) - National Pesticide Information Center site has links to specific parts of EPA's FQPA site as well as the full text of the FQPA, the grocery store brochure, links to various organizations and their thoughts on the Food Quality Protection Act.
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  11. Impacts of Eliminating Organophosphates and Carbamates from Crop Production - Texas A&M Agricultural and Food Production Center.
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  12. International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation Brochure: A Consumer's Guide to Pesticides and Food Safety -
    Note: This document references the Food Guide Pyramid, which was updated in April 2005 by the United States Department of Agriculture
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  13. USDA Pesticide Data Program (PDP) - A USDA/AMS program to collect data on pesticide residues in food. PDP data on pesticides in selected commodities are used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support its dietary risk assessment process and pesticide registration process, by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to refine sampling for enforcement of tolerances, by the Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA, to support export of U.S. commodities in a competitive global market, by the Economic Research Service, USDA, to evaluate pesticide alternatives, and by the public sector to address food safety issues.
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  14. Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996 - The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996 amended the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). These amendments fundamentally changed the way EPA regulates pesticides. The FQPA website contains background information including the full text of the FQPA, the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act Implementation Plan, and the amendments to FFDCA and FIFRA. The Implementation Status report outlines the EPA's progress in achieving the FQPA requirements. The website also outlines the nine key science policy issues that pertain to the FQPA, the effect of the FQPA on all the existing tolerances (maximum residue limits), and the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (the endocrine system and how chemicals can affect it).
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  15. FDA Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition - The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), one of six centers within the Food and Drug Administration, regulates food and cosmetics sold across state lines and ensures that they are safe and accurately labeled. Products sold within a state are regulated by that state. CFSAN has a number of programs on food safety, nutrition, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and import and export regulations. Besides information on their programs and the center's organization and history, the center's website contains contact information as well as information geared toward specific interest groups, such as the food industry, kids, senior citizens, and women.
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  16. Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition - The Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) was established between the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the University of Maryland (UM) in April 1996. The Institute is a jointly administered research and education program. JIFSAN tries to achieve its goals of promoting food safety, nutrition, and animal health through research, outreach and educational programs, and policy studies. Their website contains information about their programs and research studies as well as information about upcoming workshops, meetings, and seminars. The JIFSAN also sponsors the Food Safety Risk Analysis Clearinghouse - a site dedicated to professionals involved with food safety and risk analysis.
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  17. Agricultural Impact of the Sudden Elimination of Key Pesticides under the FQPA - CAST Issue Paper Number 11 (IP11), March 1999, 14 pp., $3.00 (Price includes shipping.) At the time this document was written, the joint Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee (TRAC) was convened for the first time. In this paper, scientists discuss the risks associated with sudden loss of pesticides due to the implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA) and suggest possible solutions. Chair: Mark E. Whalon, Center for Integrated Plant Systems, Michigan State University, East Lansing. CAST is the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology 4420 West Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014-3447, USA. Phone: 515-292-2125, Fax: 515-292-4512. E-mail: cast@cast-science.org.
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  18. Consumers Union FQPA web site
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  19. Consumer Union Comments on the FQPA - Tenfold factor; Common mechanism of action in organophosphates and carbmates; Environmental Working Group's Risk Assessment Methodology; Monte Carlo Exposure Assessments. Last updated 6/98.
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  20. How Much Punch does a Peach Pack? - This site is the April 1999 (Issue No. 156) issue of Washington State Extension's newsletter "Agrichemical & Environmental News". Two articles here related to the FQPA: 1) "How Much Punch Does a Peach Pack? How EWG & CU Have Confused Risk Management with Hazard" by Allan Felsot; and 2) Society of Toxicology Letter to EPA.
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  21. Food Quality Protection Act Discussion Group
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  22. Organophosphate Preliminary Risk Assessments - EPA's preliminary risk assessments on 16 organophosphates. There are now (January 1999) six documents, with more to come. These documents reflect only the work and analysis conducted as of the time they were produced. It is appropriate that, as new information becomes available and/or additional analyses are performed, the conclusions they contain may change.
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  23. Organophosphate FQPA Safety Factors - FQPA Safety Factors Recommended for the Organophosphates. A combined report of the Hazard Identification Assessment Review Committee and the FQPA Safety Factor Committee. EPA Office of Pesticide Programs. 06 Aug 1998. 26 pages. This is a PDF file. (To obtain a free copy of Adobe Acrobat® Reader for viewing PDF files, please visit Adobe.)
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  24. Potential FQPA Impacts - (PDF) The Uses and Benefits of Organophosphate and Carbamate Insecticides in U.S. Crop Production (5/97), an article by Leonard P. Gianessi, National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy.
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  25. Pest Management at the Crossroads - Topics on the Art and Science of Pest Management, Policy and the Public Interest, and Forces Driving Change.
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