This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of 2-ethyl-3-hydroxy- 4H-pyran-4-one, also known as ethyl maltol when used as an inert ingredient in or on growing crops, when applied to raw agricultural commodities after harvest, or to animals. Firmenich Incorporated submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of ethyl maltol.