Newly Approved PFAS-Linked Pesticides

As PFAS headlines reshape public trust in the food system, the arrival of two new fluorinated pesticides has intensified concerns and escalated debates.

In mid-2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized registrations for two new pesticide active ingredients, cyclobutrifluram and isocycloseram, approved for use on crops including soybeans, cotton, leafy greens, turfgrass, and ornamentals. EPA registration documents state that no human health risks of concern were identified when the chemicals are used according to label directions. The approvals also include mitigation steps to protect endangered species, as detailed in EPA announcements titled “EPA Registers New Pesticide Active Ingredient Cyclobutrifluram” and “EPA Announces Final Registration for the New Pesticide Isocycloseram.”

Scientists and environmental groups urge caution because both products contain fully fluorinated methyl or methylene groups, characteristic of PFAS, often called forever chemicals due to their extreme persistence. Early degradation data show soil half-lives of more than three years. Chemical and Engineering News notes that these two are part of a group of four fluorinated pesticides sparking intense debate.

For organic and non-GMO producers, the timing is significant. Many shoppers are already concerned about PFAS in drinking water, food packaging, and cropland contaminated through biosolids. The entry of PFAS-linked pesticides into conventional supply chains could heighten public concern and widen the marketing gap between organic and conventional products. The more PFAS-associated inputs move into mainstream agriculture, the more consumers may gravitate toward systems that can prove their independence from synthetic chemicals, creating potential new opportunities for organic and non-GMO brands.

Sources: Chemical and Engineering News, “Four New Pesticides Ignite Debate,” June 2025; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “EPA Registers New Pesticide Active Ingredient Cyclobutrifluram”; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “EPA Announces Final Registration for the New Pesticide Isocycloseram.”