Which act governs the establishment of pesticide tolerances for food and feed products?

• A. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
• B. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
• C. Food Quality Protection Act
• D. Toxic Substances Control Act

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that safe levels for pesticide residues on foods are established under a statute that gives authority to set those tolerances. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act provides the legal framework to establish and enforce tolerances for pesticide residues in food and feed, ensuring the products are safe for consumption. The Food Quality Protection Act later strengthened and updated how those tolerances are assessed, with stricter safety standards and revised risk evaluations, but the fundamental power to set tolerances comes from the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The other acts focus on different areas: one governs the registration and labeling of pesticides, another covers broader chemical regulation, and the Food Quality Protection Act itself is an amendment that tightens the risk standards rather than serving as the primary source of tolerance authority.