DCC Updated Pesticide Regulations – October 2026
California’s pesticide testing regulations have officially moved from proposal to implementation. Following an extensive rulemaking process that included multiple rounds of revisions, scientific review, and industry feedback, the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has approved its updated pesticide testing regulations.
The regulatory changes follow heightened industry attention around pesticide contamination and testing practices and represent a significant update to California’s cannabis pesticide testing requirements. The final regulations establish revised pesticide action levels, laboratory testing requirements, and a phased implementation approach, with additional requirements taking effect in 2028.
As a cannabis testing laboratory that has remained engaged with the DCC throughout the rulemaking process, we’ve closely followed these changes from their initial proposal through final approval. Below, we’ll break down the approved regulations, key implementation dates, and what these changes mean for California cannabis operators and consumers.
Updated Pesticide Regulation Implementation
The DCC’s updated pesticide testing regulations have now been approved, with an effective date of October 1, 2026. This marks the transition from the rulemaking process into implementation and gives licensed laboratories and cannabis operators a defined timeline to prepare for the updated requirements.
The regulations use a phased implementation approach rather than requiring every change to occur at once. Beginning October 1, 2026, laboratories will be required to comply with the applicable updated pesticide action levels and testing requirements established in the final regulations. Additional requirements are scheduled to take effect April 1, 2028, providing laboratories additional time to develop, validate, and implement analytical methods necessary to meet those requirements.
This transition period is particularly important for laboratories, as changes to action levels, limits of quantitation (LOQs), and analytical requirements may require method development, validation, instrumentation adjustments, and other operational changes before implementation.
For cannabis operators, the October 1 effective date means it is important to understand how the new action levels may impact compliance testing and to begin preparing for the updated standards. As implementation moves forward, laboratories will play an important role in helping clients understand these changes and how they may affect their products and testing results.
The DCC’s final regulatory text and supporting rulemaking documents provide the specific requirements and implementation timelines laboratories will be expected to follow.
Updates on Action Levels
The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has finalized its updated regulations for residual pesticide testing under DCC-2025-03-R. The regulations were approved and filed with the Secretary of State on July 27, 2026, and will take effect October 1, 2026.
Under the approved regulations, California is updating the action levels used to determine whether cannabis and cannabis products pass or fail residual pesticide testing. The requirements establish specific action levels for inhalable cannabis and cannabis products and non-inhalable cannabis products. A sample passes pesticide testing when detected pesticide residues do not exceed the applicable action level.
California Residual Pesticide Action Levels — Table 1
Effective October 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028
Action levels are expressed in micrograms per gram (µg/g). A sample passes when pesticide residues do not exceed the applicable action level.
| Pesticide |
Inhalable Cannabis and Cannabis Products
(µg/g) |
Non-Inhalable Cannabis Products
(µg/g) |
| Abamectin |
0.10 |
0.3 |
| Acephate |
0.10 |
5.0 |
| Acequinocyl |
0.10 |
4.0 |
| Acetamiprid |
3.0 |
6.5 |
| Aldicarb |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Azoxystrobin |
16.0 |
40.0 |
| Bifenazate |
0.10 |
6.5 |
| Bifenthrin |
3.0 |
2.0 |
| Boscalid |
0.10 |
14.0 |
| Captan |
0.70 |
6.5 |
| Carbaryl |
0.50 |
0.50 |
| Carbofuran |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Chlorantraniliprole |
14.0 |
40.0 |
| Chlordane |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Chlorfenapyr |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Chlorpyrifos |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Clofentezine |
0.10 |
0.85 |
| Coumaphos |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Cyfluthrin |
2.0 |
1.0 |
| Cypermethrin |
1.0 |
1.0 |
| Daminozide |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| DDVP (Dichlorvos) |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Diazinon |
0.10 |
0.20 |
| Dimethoate |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Dimethomorph |
2.0 |
20.0 |
| Ethoprop(hos) |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Etofenprox |
0.10 |
5.0 |
| Etoxazole |
0.10 |
1.50 |
| Fenhexamid |
0.10 |
25.0 |
| Fenoxycarb |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Fenpyroximate |
0.10 |
4.0 |
| Fipronil |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Flonicamid |
0.10 |
7.9 |
| Fludioxonil |
0.10 |
30.0 |
| Hexythiazox |
0.10 |
6.0 |
| Imazalil |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Imidacloprid |
5.0 |
3.9 |
| Kresoxim-methyl |
0.10 |
1.0 |
| Malathion |
0.50 |
8.0 |
| Metalaxyl |
2.0 |
15.0 |
| Methiocarb |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Methomyl |
1.0 |
0.10 |
| Methyl parathion |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Mevinphos |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Myclobutanil |
0.10 |
9.0 |
| Naled |
0.10 |
0.50 |
| Oxamyl |
0.50 |
0.20 |
| Paclobutrazol |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Pentachloronitrobenzene |
0.10 |
1.0 |
| Permethrin |
0.50 |
20.0 |
| Phosmet |
0.10 |
0.20 |
| Piperonyl butoxide |
3.0 |
8.0 |
| Prallethrin |
0.10 |
1.0 |
| Propiconazole |
0.10 |
20.0 |
| Propoxur |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Pyrethrins |
0.50 |
1.0 |
| Pyridaben |
0.10 |
3.0 |
| Spinetoram |
0.10 |
3.2 |
| Spinosad |
0.10 |
3.2 |
| Spiromesifen |
0.10 |
12.0 |
| Spirotetramat |
0.10 |
13.0 |
| Spiroxamine |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Tebuconazole |
18.0 |
2.0 |
| Thiacloprid |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Thiamethoxam |
5.0 |
4.5 |
| Trifloxystrobin |
0.10 |
30.0 |
Looking Ahead: The approved regulations also establish additional changes beginning April 1, 2028, including updated pesticide action levels and laboratory limit of quantitation (LOQ) requirements. Until then, laboratories will follow the action levels established for the October 1, 2026 implementation period.
Conclusion
With the updated pesticide regulations now approved, the focus shifts from what might change to preparing for what’s next. As the October 1, 2026 effective date approaches, Encore Labs is actively preparing for the updated requirements to help ensure a smooth transition for our clients.
Our goal is to be more than just the lab that delivers your COA. We want to help our clients understand how regulatory changes may impact their products, testing results, and day-to-day operations. As these new pesticide requirements take effect, our team will continue to provide practical guidance, regulatory updates, and testing support to help you stay informed and compliant.
In the meantime, understanding where pesticide contamination comes from, and how certain compounds can make their way into cannabis products, remains an important part of prevention. Check out our pesticide breakdowns for a closer look at some of the compounds we encounter in cannabis testing and what operators should know about them.
Encore Labs will continue to monitor implementation of the new requirements and keep our clients informed as California’s testing standards evolve.