EPA Announces Proposed Registration of New Biopesticide and Biopesticides Webpage

Released October 23, 2025

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released for public comment its proposed registration decision for products containing the new active ingredient Priestia megaterium strain SYM36613, a broad-spectrum fungicide proposed for use on Brassica vegetables, bulb vegetables, root and tuber vegetables, cereal grains, corn, cotton, legumes, oil seeds, peanuts and soybeans. EPA is also highlighting the biopesticides webpage, where information on this and other biopesticides under review by the agency can be found.

Priestia megaterium strain SYM36613 is a biopesticide from a new microbial species that controls a wide range of seed and soilborne plant diseases and can address pest management needs for niche uses, such as crops for which pests have developed resistance to other pesticides, crops where fungal diseases are present, or where consumer demand requires use of lower-risk pesticides. Biopesticides are usually inherently lower risk compared to conventional pesticides since they generally only target pest and closely related organisms rather than many different organisms (e.g., birds, insects, and mammals).

In addition to its proposed registration decision, EPA is releasing human health and ecological risk assessments for the fungicide. EPA’s assessments found no risks of concern to humans or non-target organisms.

After considering public comments on the proposed registration and risk assessments, EPA will determine whether the registration action meets the standard for registration under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. If EPA determines that the registration action can be granted, EPA will finalize the decision. 

The public comment period on EPA’s proposed registration decision will be open for 15 days, closing on Nov. 7, 2025. To read more about the proposed decision and submit a comment, see docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0621 at www.regulations.gov.

Since January 2025, EPA has registered fifteen new biopesticide active ingredients. EPA’s biopesticides webpage allows interested parties to track, review, or comment on biopesticide actions by providing the latest information on biopesticides under review by EPA that have or had an open public comment period. The webpage includes links to biopesticide actions open for public comment, including proposed registration decisions for new biopesticide active ingredients and new uses, registration review documents and information about how biopesticides are evaluated for registration.

Please visit the biopesticides webpage for more information about this biopesticide, and other biopesticide actions in the future.