EPA Finalized Safety Review for Mung Bean Growth Regulator
The agency determined that 4-CPA, used on mung bean sprouts, poses no significant risks to health or the environment.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Organic Food
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The Environmental Protection Agency has completed its mandatory registration review for 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4-CPA). The chemical, a synthetic auxin used as a plant growth regulator on mung bean sprouts, was found to meet federal safety standards for human health and the environment.
Why it matters
This review ensures that pesticides currently in the food supply continue to meet modern safety requirements set by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The EPA periodically reassesses registered chemicals every 15 years to confirm their ongoing safety and alignment with current toxicological knowledge.
The EPA conducted a review of dietary, occupational, residential, and aggregate risks for 4-CPA registered uses. The agency concluded there are no human health or environmental concerns and made a no effects determination for endangered and threatened species.
The players
Environmental Protection Agency
The federal agency responsible for regulating pesticides and protecting human health and the environment in the United States.
The details
4-CPA functions as a synthetic auxin, a plant hormone that promotes growth by stimulating cell elongation. To minimize exposure, the EPA now requires that product labels for 4-CPA specify that it is restricted to indoor use only. This decision follows the agency's completion of commitments under the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program for this specific ingredient.
Timeline
The EPA released the final registration review decision for 4-CPA on September 28, 2026.
The statutory pesticide registration review deadline was October 1, 2026.
The 2026 Farm Bill proposes extending the registration review deadline to October 1, 2031.
Health Landscape
This decision reflects the ongoing systematic review of chemical agents used in food production under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. It fits into the broader 15-year mandatory assessment cycle for pesticides that helps ensure modern safety standards are upheld.
This finding confirms that the specific use of 4-CPA on mung bean sprouts does not pose a identified safety concern according to federal assessments. Consumers with concerns about pesticide residues on produce are encouraged to discuss food preparation methods, such as thorough washing, with their physician.
The takeaway
The EPA has validated the safety profile of 4-CPA for its registered use on mung bean sprouts. As a standard safety practice, consumers should continue to prioritize washing all produce under cool, running water before consumption.
Further reading
To learn more about chemical residues and standards for produce, visit our Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The National Law Review - A Free To Use Nationwide Database of Legal Publications.
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