This regulation establishes four exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of lactic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester or ethylhexyl lactate when used as an inert ingredient (solvent) in or on growing crops, when applied to raw agricultural commodities after harvest, or to animals. Purac America, Inc. 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 lactic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester.