EPA Announces Final Registration of New Pesticide Isocycloseram

Released November 20, 2025

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered ten products containing the new active ingredient isocycloseram, a broad-spectrum contact insecticide proposed for use on agricultural crops, turf and ornamentals, as well as indoor and outdoor uses for commercial, industrial and domestic sites. This new active ingredient will give farmers an additional tool to help manage crops and grow more food for our country. Some of the target pests for these products can cause significant crop damage and financial loss to growers, such as the tarnished plant bug in cotton, Colorado potato beetle in potatoes and diamondback moth in Brassica vegetables. Isocycloseram will also give citrus farmers an important new product to help control the pest Asian citrus psyllid, the primary vector of devastating citrus greening disease. Additionally, this pesticide has important benefits for managing indoor pests, including cockroaches, termites and bed bugs. No human health risks of concern were identified when isocycloseram is used according to the registered labels.

The isocycloseram registrations are supported by human health and ecological risk assessments as well as a biological evaluation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). EPA did not identify risks of concern for aquatic and terrestrial plants. EPA preliminarily concluded that the proposed use of isocycloseram may affect insect pollinators from spray application and aquatic invertebrates from spray, seed and soil treatments. It can also cause chronic risks to birds and mammals ingesting treated rapeseed.    

The following mitigation measures are found on the products’ labeling to address on- and off-field effects to non-target species, including listed species:

• A link to the Bulletins Live! Two web system, with instructions to follow any applicable endangered species bulletins and Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULAs) on the site;
• A link to EPA’s mitigation menu where users can choose mitigation options to meet use-dependent point thresholds;
• Restrictions for application during rain or when soils are saturated;
• Prohibition of aerial application on all uses except corn, cotton, potato and soybean, with additional geographical restrictions included in the label for aerial application on corn and soybean;
• Spray drift buffer requirement for aerial, ground and airblast applications;
• Prohibition on applications three days before and during bloom for orchard crops;
• Prohibition on applications during hours of the day when bees are most active for indeterminate blooming crops;
• List of best management practices to help reduce the risk to pollinators and to promote the health and habitat of ground-nesting bees;
• Advisory requirement to protect pollinators from isocycloseram-treated seed coating dust; and
• Instructions for managing spilled or exposed treated seeds.

With these mitigation measures and Bulletins with associated PULAs for seven listed species in place, EPA's final biological evaluation predicts that the use of isocycloseram will not result in a likelihood of future jeopardy for the survival of any listed species, or a likelihood of adverse modification for any designated critical habitat.

EPA has initiated ESA consultation and shared its findings with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (collectively referred to as the Services). During formal consultation, the Services use the information in EPA’s final biological evaluation to inform their biological opinions. While EPA has made predictions about the potential likelihood of future jeopardy/adverse modification as part of its biological evaluation, the Services are responsible for making the actual final jeopardy/adverse modification findings and have the sole authority to do so. If the Services determine in their final biological opinions that additional mitigations are necessary to address any jeopardy/adverse modification determination or to address any unintentional harm known as incidental take, then EPA will work with the registrant to ensure that any necessary registration or labeling changes are made. 

Isocycloseram is a pesticide that contains a fluorinated carbon. Visit our webpage to learn more about how EPA ensures the safety of pesticides with a fluorinated carbon.

All the supporting documents related to isocycloseram are available in docket  EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0641 at www.regulations.gov.