EPA Issues Guidance Addressing Misinformation on Recent Pesticide Approvals
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention has released comprehensive guidance to address growing misinformation surrounding the EPA’s recent pesticide approvals. As public discussion has intensified—particularly around single fluorinated compounds—the agency aims to clarify what these substances are, how they are regulated, and what extensive risk assessments have already determined.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin emphasized this point directly, sharing in a post on X, “First off, the EPA-approved single fluorinated compounds are NOT ‘forever chemicals’, NOT PFAS, and also NOT a new concept. In fact, it was the BIDEN ADMIN in a public rulemaking that defined PFAS in 2023, and …, it specifically excluded single fluorinated compounds…. Sound, gold standard science is what drives ALL of these reviews. It’s the only way to operate. I don’t make the laws. I only follow them…to a tee, and EPA has very clearly defined statutory obligations we must adhere to under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). In EXTREMELY EXTENSIVE studies, NO human health risks of concern were identified when Cyclobutrifluram and Isocycloseram are used according to the label. The Trump EPA proudly and unapologetically is totally committed to always advancing the healthiest, most abundant food supply possible!”
The newly released guidance expands on these points. It provides details about proper use according to product labeling, summarizes the outcomes of repeated scientific reviews, and explains the regulatory history behind pesticide approvals. The agency notes that assessments under FIFRA remain among the most rigorous chemical review processes in the world, requiring extensive toxicological data, environmental evaluations, and real-world exposure modeling.
The EPA also underscores that consumers retain broad choices regarding food and agricultural products, and that responsible pesticide use plays a key role in preserving food security and crop protection. According to the agency, “EPA-Approved Single Fluorinated Compounds Are NOT Forever Chemicals and Pose No Safety Concerns When Used According to Label Instructions.”
As questions continue circulating online, the EPA’s guidance aims to ensure that discussions remain grounded in verified science and established regulatory frameworks.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.