[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 17, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9866-9868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03174]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 180

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0064; FRL-10018-70]


Emamectin Benzoate; Pesticide Tolerances

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of 
emamectin benzoate in or on tea commodities. Syngenta Crop Protection, 
LLC requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

DATES: This regulation is effective February 17, 2021. Objections and 
requests for hearings must be received on or before April 19, 2021, and 
must be filed in accordance with the instructions provided in 40 CFR 
part 178 (see also Unit I.C. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

ADDRESSES: The docket for this action, identified by docket 
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0064, is available at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Office of Pesticide Programs Regulatory 
Public Docket (OPP Docket) in the Environmental Protection Agency 
Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 
1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001. The Public 
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public 
Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPP 
Docket is (703) 305-5805.
    Due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA 
Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room is closed to visitors with 
limited exceptions. The staff continues to provide remote customer 
service via email, phone, and webform. For the latest status 
information on EPA/DC services and docket access, visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets. Please review the visitor instructions and 
additional information about the docket available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marietta Echeverria, Registration 
Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-
0001; main telephone number: (703) 305-7090; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an 
agricultural producer, food manufacturer, or pesticide manufacturer. 
The following list of North American Industrial Classification System 
(NAICS) codes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them. 
Potentially affected entities may include:
     Crop production (NAICS code 111).
     Animal production (NAICS code 112).
     Food manufacturing (NAICS code 311).
     Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS code 32532).

B. How can I get electronic access to other related information?

    You may access a frequently updated electronic version of EPA's 
tolerance regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through the Government 
Publishing Office's e-CFR site at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40tab_02.tpl.

C. How can I file an objection or hearing request?

    Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21 U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an 
objection to any aspect of this regulation and may also request a 
hearing on those objections. You must file your objection or request a 
hearing on this regulation in accordance with the instructions provided 
in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, you must identify 
docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0064 in the subject line on the first 
page of your submission. All objections and requests for a hearing must 
be in writing, and must be

[[Page 9867]]

received by the Hearing Clerk on or before April 19, 2021. Addresses 
for mail and hand delivery of objections and hearing requests are 
provided in 40 CFR 178.25(b).
    In addition to filing an objection or hearing request with the 
Hearing Clerk as described in 40 CFR part 178, please submit a copy of 
the filing (excluding any Confidential Business Information (CBI)) for 
inclusion in the public docket. Information not marked confidential 
pursuant to 40 CFR part 2 may be disclosed publicly by EPA without 
prior notice. Submit the non-CBI copy of your objection or hearing 
request, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0064, by one of 
the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit 
electronically any information you consider to be CBI or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
     Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 
20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
    Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along 
with more information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

II. Summary of Petitioned-For Tolerance

    In the Federal Register of April 15, 2020 (85 FR 20910) (FRL-10006-
54), EPA issued a document pursuant to FFDCA section 408(d)(3), 21 
U.S.C. 346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a pesticide petition (PP 
9F8810) by Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, 410 Swing Road, Greensboro, 
NC 27409. The petition requested that 40 CFR 180.505 be amended by 
establishing a tolerance for residues of the insecticide emamectin 
benzoate (a mixture of a minimum of 90% 4'-epi-methylamino-4'-
deoxyavermectin B1a and a maximum of 10% 4'-epi-methlyamino-
4'deoxyavermectin B1b benzoate), and its metabolites 8,9 isomer of the 
B1a and B1b in or on tea leaves at 0.2 parts per million (ppm). That 
document referenced a summary of the petition prepared by Syngenta Crop 
Protection, LLC, the registrant, which is available in the docket, 
http://www.regulations.gov. There were no comments received in response 
to the notice of filing.
    Based upon review of the data supporting the petition, EPA is 
establishing tolerances that vary from what is requested. The reason 
for these changes is explained in Unit IV.D.

III. Aggregate Risk Assessment and Determination of Safety

    Section 408(b)(2)(A)(i) of FFDCA allows EPA to establish a 
tolerance (the legal limit for a pesticide chemical residue in or on a 
food) only if EPA determines that the tolerance is ``safe.'' Section 
408(b)(2)(A)(ii) of FFDCA defines ``safe'' to mean that ``there is a 
reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure 
to the pesticide chemical residue, including all anticipated dietary 
exposures and all other exposures for which there is reliable 
information.'' This includes exposure through drinking water and in 
residential settings, but does not include occupational exposure. 
Section 408(b)(2)(C) of FFDCA requires EPA to give special 
consideration to exposure of infants and children to the pesticide 
chemical residue in establishing a tolerance and to ``ensure that there 
is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to infants and 
children from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue. . . 
.''
    Consistent with FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D), and the factors 
specified in FFDCA section 408(b)(2)(D), EPA has reviewed the available 
scientific data and other relevant information in support of this 
action. EPA has sufficient data to assess the hazards of and to make a 
determination on aggregate exposure for emamectin benzoate including 
exposure resulting from the tolerances established by this action. 
EPA's assessment of exposures and risks associated with emamectin 
benzoate follows.
    In an effort to streamline Federal Register publications, EPA is 
not reprinting here summaries of its analysis that have previously 
appeared in the Federal Register in previous tolerance rulemakings for 
the same pesticide. To that end, this rulemaking refers the reader to 
several sections from the August 27, 2019 tolerance rulemaking for 
residues of emamectin benzoate that remain unchanged for an 
understanding of the Agency's rationale in support of this rulemaking. 
See (84 FR 44718) (FRL-9997-10). Those sections are: Units III.A 
(Toxicological Profile); III.B. (Toxicological Points of Departure/
Levels of Concern); III.C. (Exposure Assessment), except as explained 
in the next paragraphs; III.D. (Safety Factor for Infants and 
Children); and IV.A (Analytical Enforcement Method).
    Exposure assessment updates. EPA's exposure assessments have been 
updated to include the additional exposure from residues of emamectin 
benzoate in or on tea commodities. The assessments continue to be 
refined as described in the August 27, 2019 tolerance rule preamble. 
The residues of emamectin benzoate on tea commodities is not being 
approved for domestic use, so no changes were made to EPA's drinking 
water assessment or residential exposure assessment.
    Assessment of aggregate risks. EPA determines whether acute and 
chronic dietary pesticide exposures are safe by comparing aggregate 
exposure estimates to the acute PAD (aPAD) and chronic PAD (cPAD). 
Short-, intermediate-, and chronic-term risks are evaluated by 
comparing the estimated aggregate food, water, and residential exposure 
to the appropriate PODs to ensure that an adequate MOE exists. For 
linear cancer risks, EPA calculates the lifetime probability of 
acquiring cancer given the estimated aggregate exposure.
    Acute dietary risks are below the Agency's level of concern: 26% of 
the acute population adjusted dose (aPAD) for children 1 to 2 years 
old, the population group of concern. Chronic dietary risks are below 
the Agency's level of concern: 3.4% of the chronic population adjusted 
dose (cPAD) for children 1 to 2 years old, the group with the highest 
exposure. As there are no residential exposures expected, aggregate 
risks are equivalent to the dietary risks, which are below the Agency's 
levels of concern. Based on the most recent screening-level cumulative 
exposure assessment, EPA has concluded the cumulative aggregate dietary 
and residential exposures for emamectin benzoate result in aggregate 
margins of exposures above the level of concern of 100 for all 
scenarios assessed and are not of concern.
    Determination of safety. Therefore, based on the risk assessments 
and information described above, EPA concludes there is a reasonable 
certainty that no harm will result to the general population or to 
infants and children from aggregate exposure to emamectin benzoate 
residues. More detailed information on the subject action to establish 
a tolerance in or on tea commodities can be found in the document 
entitled, ``Emamectin (Emamectin Benzoate). Human Health Risk 
Assessment in Support of Establishing Tolerances without a U.S. 
Registration for Residues of Emamectin in/on Tea Commodities'' by going 
to http://www.regulations.gov. The referenced document is available in 
the docket established by this action, which

[[Page 9868]]

is described under ADDRESSES. Locate and click on the hyperlink for 
docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0064.

IV. Other Considerations

A. International Residue Limits

    In making its tolerance decisions, EPA seeks to harmonize U.S. 
tolerances with international standards whenever possible, consistent 
with U.S. food safety standards and agricultural practices. EPA 
considers the international maximum residue limits (MRLs) established 
by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), as required by FFDCA 
section 408(b)(4). The Codex Alimentarius is a joint United Nations 
Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization food 
standards program, and it is recognized as an international food safety 
standards-setting organization in trade agreements to which the United 
States is a party. EPA may establish a tolerance that is different from 
a Codex MRL; however, FFDCA section 408(b)(4) requires that EPA explain 
the reasons for departing from the Codex level.
    The Codex has not established a MRL for emamectin benzoate.

B. Revisions to Petitioned-For Tolerances

    The tolerance on tea commodities is being set at 0.5 ppm instead of 
the proposed level at 0.2 ppm in order to harmonize with the Japanese 
MRL. For the proposed tolerance on tea, the commodity definition was 
revised to include the standard commodities of ``tea, dried'' and 
``tea, instant.''

V. Conclusion

    Therefore, tolerances are established for residues of emamectin 
benzoate (a mixture of a minimum of 90% 4'-epi-methylamino-4'-
deoxyavermectin B1a and a maximum of 10% 4'-epi-methlyamino-
4'deoxyavermectin B1b benzoate) and its metabolites in or on tea, dried 
and tea, instant at 0.5 ppm.

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This action establishes tolerances under FFDCA section 408(d) in 
response to a petition submitted to the Agency. The Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted these types of actions from 
review under Executive Order 12866, entitled ``Regulatory Planning and 
Review'' (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). Because this action has been 
exempted from review under Executive Order 12866, this action is not 
subject to Executive Order 13211, entitled ``Actions Concerning 
Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or 
Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001) or Executive Order 13045, entitled 
``Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), nor is it considered a 
regulatory action under Executive Order 13771, entitled ``Reducing 
Regulations and Controlling Regulatory Costs'' (82 FR 9339, February 3, 
2017). This action does not contain any information collections subject 
to OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), nor does it require any special considerations under 
Executive Order 12898, entitled ``Federal Actions to Address 
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations'' (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    Since tolerances and exemptions that are established on the basis 
of a petition under FFDCA section 408(d), such as the tolerance in this 
final rule, do not require the issuance of a proposed rule, the 
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.), do not apply.
    This action directly regulates growers, food processors, food 
handlers, and food retailers, not States or Tribes, nor does this 
action alter the relationships or distribution of power and 
responsibilities established by Congress in the preemption provisions 
of FFDCA section 408(n)(4). As such, the Agency has determined that 
this action will not have a substantial direct effect on States or 
Tribal Governments, on the relationship between the National Government 
and the States or Tribal Governments, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government or between 
the Federal Government and Indian Tribes. Thus, the Agency has 
determined that Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 
43255, August 10, 1999) and Executive Order 13175, entitled 
``Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 
67249, November 9, 2000) do not apply to this action. In addition, this 
action does not impose any enforceable duty or contain any unfunded 
mandate as described under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 
(UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
    This action does not involve any technical standards that would 
require Agency consideration of voluntary consensus standards pursuant 
to section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note).

VII. Congressional Review Act

    Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 
EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other required 
information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and 
the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of 
the rule in the Federal Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' 
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Agricultural commodities, Pesticides and pests, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: January 26, 2021.
Marietta Echeverria,
Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

    Therefore, for the reasons stated in the preamble, EPA is amending 
40 CFR chapter I as follows:

PART 180--TOLERANCES AND EXEMPTIONS FOR PESTICIDE CHEMICAL RESIDUES 
IN FOOD

0
1. The authority citation for part 180 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371.


0
2. In Sec.  180.505, amend paragraph (a)(1) by designating the table 
and adding in alphabetical order in newly designated table 1 to 
paragraph (a)(1) the entries ``Tea, dried''; and ``Tea, instant'' to 
read as follows:


Sec.  180.505  Emamectin; tolerances for residues.

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *

                       Table 1 to Paragraph (a)(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Parts per
                          Commodity                             million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
Tea, dried \1\..............................................         0.5
Tea, instant \1\............................................         0.5
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Emamectin benzoate has not been registered for use in the United
  States as of February 17, 2021.

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2021-03174 Filed 2-16-21; 8:45 am]
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