This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of the Rhizobium inoculants (pure strains of Rhizobium spp. bacteria [e.g. Sinorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium & Rhizobium]; hereinafter referred to as Rhizobium inoculants) when used as inert ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to all leguminous food commodities. This would not include strains expressing rhizobitoxine or strains deliberately altered to expand the range of antibiotic resistance. EPA is establishing this regulation on its own initiative. EPA submitted a proposed rule under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of Rhizobium inoculants.