In November 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved ten pesticide products containing the new active ingredient isocycloseram. These products are registered for use on a wide range of sites, including agricultural crops, turf, ornamentals, commercial areas, industrial facilities, and indoor and outdoor residential locations.
The EPA states that these registrations met federal safety standards following its standard review process.
WHAT IS ISOCYCLOSERAM?
Isocycloseram is described by the EPA as a broad-spectrum, contact insecticide. The approved products are intended to help manage several types of insect pests that affect major U.S. crops.
According to the EPA, isocycloseram is expected to be used to control pests such as:
- Tarnished plant bug in cotton
- Colorado potato beetle in potatoes
- Diamondback moth in Brassica vegetables
- Asian citrus psyllid in citrus production
The EPA noted that the citrus application may offer growers another tool to help manage citrus greening disease, which is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid and has affected citrus crops in states such as Florida.
WHY IS THIS APPROVAL RECEIVING ATTENTION?
Some public discussion has focused on the fact that isocycloseram is a fluorinated chemical. Fluorinated chemicals can include PFAS-like structures, which are known for being persistent in the environment.
While the EPA’s review determined that the approved uses meet the agency’s safety criteria, fluorinated pesticides in general have prompted questions from researchers and environmental groups regarding:
- How long these types of chemicals remain in soil or water
- Whether they move easily through groundwater
- How they behave when used repeatedly over time
- Whether they contribute to broader environmental PFAS levels
These points do not indicate confirmed impacts from isocycloseram specifically, but they help explain why the registration has been widely discussed.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
As with all registered pesticides, isocycloseram products will be subject to ongoing monitoring and future EPA review. Federal pesticide registrations can be revisited if new data becomes available or if additional research suggests a need for updated regulatory decisions.
Users of these products, including growers, landscapers, and pest-control professionals, must follow all label instructions, application limits, and safety requirements. This ensures that the products are used as intended and remain within the conditions under which they were approved.
BOTTOM LINE
- Ten new pesticide products containing isocycloseram were approved by the EPA in November 2025.
- The products target pests affecting crops such as cotton, potatoes, Brassica vegetables, and citrus.
- Isocycloseram is a broad-spectrum contact insecticide intended for agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential uses.
- Public interest in the approval is partly due to isocycloseram being a fluorinated chemical, a category that can raise questions about long-term environmental persistence.
- The EPA states that the registered products meet federal safety standards and will continue to be monitored as part of the agency’s regulatory process.