EPA Clarifies Safety of Single-Fluorinated Pesticide Approvals

The Environmental Protection Agency confirms that new single-fluorinated pesticides are not PFAS and remain fully compliant with current safety standards.

chemical pesticides_ag revolution 22148933_G.jpeg

Ed - stock.adobe.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — Producers are seeing renewed public claims about “forever chemical” pesticides, prompting confusion over whether recently approved crop-protection compounds pose risks to human health or the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a detailed fact check this week stating that the claims are incorrect and that the approved pesticides meet all safety requirements under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

EPA experts emphasized that single-fluorinated carbon compounds are not classified as PFAS. The agency formally defined PFAS in 2023 as substances containing two or more fluorinated carbons, a distinction supported by toxicology and environmental persistence data. The new products lack the long-term bioaccumulation properties associated with PFAS.

Regulators also reported no human health risks of concern when pesticides are used according to label instructions. Assessments included toxicity studies, reproductive and developmental screens, and environmental-fate evaluations across multiple species.

EPA noted that these compounds are safer alternatives to older organochlorine chemistries and are already approved by international regulators in the EU, Canada, Australia, and other countries. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have registered dozens of similar single-fluorinated pesticides.

Looking ahead, EPA says continued precision chemistry will remain essential for protecting yields, preventing pest losses, and maintaining affordable food supplies.

Farm-Level Takeaway: EPA confirms new single-fluorinated pesticides are not PFAS and remain fully compliant with modern safety standards.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
Related Stories
President Trump has long supported a direct line from Alberta’s oil fields to the Midwest.
FarmHER Annaliese Wegner joined us to dish about her episode of Dirt Diaries, talk about her own podcast, and other exciting moments ahead for Ag’s Most Okayest Farm Girls.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold discusses eye protection and injury prevention in everyday agricultural activities on Rural Health Matters.
Bright Star Ranch continues to offer hope, connection, and healing through its equine therapy programs.
Treat financial stress as a health risk—know the warning signs, normalize conversations, and connect farm families to local and national support early.
Focus on home radon testing—not changing your diet—because background sources vastly outweigh any exposure from naturally radioactive foods.
Wed, 10/15/25 – 7:30 PM ET | 6:30 PM CT | 5:30 PM MT | 4:30 PM PT
“It, all of a sudden, says that tracking and fighting hunger is not a priority, apparently, at the federal level.”
As flu season closes in, Dr. Gold outlines the steps to take when you get sick — including resting, staying hydrated, and knowing when to seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Tight cattle supplies continue to drive lower beef output despite heavier weights.
Weaker U.S. dairy prices come as value-added exports expand and ingredient inventories tighten, creating mixed market signals for producers.
WTO gauges point to agricultural raw materials trade growing more slowly than overall goods, reinforcing the need to manage export risk and monitor policy shifts closely.
Improved export prospects and higher crop prices strengthened future expectations despite continued caution about spending.
China’s renewed purchases signal improving sorghum demand at a time when export markets are otherwise uneven. Meanwhile, agriculture groups across the U.S, Canada, and Mexico want to protect close trade relations.
Strong demand supports sweet potatoes, but grading challenges and rising costs weigh on returns for Southeastern growers.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Pam Minick, “The American Rancher” focuses on the people and places that make ranching an American lifestyle. This half-hour magazine format series features livestock producers and their ranches, animals, and ranching practices.
For the latest information on how to take your operation from good to great, tune into Ag PhD. The program includes a wide range of agronomic information from how to maximize your fertilizer program & tiling to stopping those yield-robbing insects and crop diseases and more.
RFD-TV is always creating new ways for rural America to educate and to be educated. RURAL AMERICA LIVE, the network’s longest-running self-produced program, is certainly no exception.