Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially released the final Biological Evaluations (BEs) for the herbicide bicyclopyrone and the fungicide benzovindiflupyr. These evaluations focus on the potential impacts of the two pesticides on federally endangered and threatened species in the United States, as well as designated critical habitats. Meanwhile, they also provide a comprehensive response and summary of various comments from the public regarding the draft evaluations previously released.​

As an important herbicide, bicyclopyrone plays a crucial role in agricultural production. It is mainly used in the fields of large - scale cash crops such as corn, wheat, and barley. It can effectively control broad - leaved weeds in the fields and also has a good control effect on some annual grassy weeds, providing strong support for ensuring the yield and quality of these staple food crops. In addition, the application scope of bicyclopyrone has extended to the planting of minor crops such as lemongrass and rosemary, meeting the weed control needs in the production process of characteristic crops and contributing to the stable development of the niche agricultural industry.​

Benzovindiflupyr, on the other hand, is a widely used fungicide. Its applicable objects cover a variety of important crops, including rapeseed, grains, corn, and cotton. It can effectively resist the damage of various fungal diseases to these crops and reduce the yield loss caused by diseases. Moreover, benzovindiflupyr also has important applications in non - food use fields. It can be used for lawn maintenance and the disease control of ornamental plants, helping to maintain the sound development trend of urban green landscapes and the horticultural industry, and improving the environmental aesthetics and ecological quality.​

Previously, the EPA released the draft versions of the biological evaluations for these two pesticides in September 2024 and publicly solicited comments from the public. After fully reviewing and analyzing a large number of comments feedback from the public, the EPA carefully revised and improved the evaluation contents of bicyclopyrone and benzovindiflupyr, and finally formed the official evaluation reports released this time. The results of these final biological evaluations clearly present the specific impacts of the two pesticides on endangered species and critical habitats:​

Assessment Results of Bicyclopyrone's Impacts​

In terms of impacts on endangered species, the assessment shows that bicyclopyrone has no adverse effects on 477 endangered species, accounting for 27% of the total number of evaluated species. For 300 endangered species (17% of the total), the possibility of it causing adverse effects is relatively low. There are 803 endangered species (46% of the total) that may be adversely affected by bicyclopyrone, but the degree of this impact is relatively mild, which will not cause the species to face the risk of extinction nor bring about adverse changes to the living status of the species. In addition, there are 155 endangered species (9% of the total) that may not only be adversely affected by bicyclopyrone, but also this impact is severe enough to cause the species to face the risk of extinction or lead to adverse changes in their living status.​

In terms of critical habitats, bicyclopyrone has no impact on 443 critical habitats, accounting for 47% of the total number of evaluated habitats. It is unlikely to have adverse effects on 105 critical habitats (11% of the total). It may have adverse effects on 330 critical habitats (35% of the total), but will not cause adverse changes to the habitats. At the same time, 73 critical habitats (8% of the total) may be adversely affected by bicyclopyrone, and this impact will lead to adverse changes in the habitats.​

Assessment Results of Benzovindiflupyr's Impacts​

In terms of impacts on endangered species, benzovindiflupyr has no impact on 994 endangered species, accounting for 57% of the total number of evaluated species, and this proportion is relatively high among the two pesticides. For 259 endangered species (15% of the total), the possibility of it causing adverse effects is relatively small. There are 441 endangered species (26% of the total) that may be adversely affected by this fungicide, but they will not face the risk of extinction or adverse changes in their living status due to this. Only 41 endangered species (2% of the total) may be adversely affected, and this impact will bring about the risk of extinction or adverse changes in their living status.​

In terms of impacts on critical habitats, benzovindiflupyr has no impact on 550 critical habitats, accounting for 58% of the total number of evaluated habitats. It is unlikely to have adverse effects on 135 critical habitats (14% of the total). It may have adverse effects on 252 critical habitats (26% of the total), but will not cause adverse changes to the habitats. Only 14 critical habitats (2% of the total) may be adversely affected by this fungicide, and this will lead to adverse changes in the habitats.​

In accordance with the requirements of relevant U.S. laws and regulations, if the EPA clearly determines in the final biological evaluations that the use of a specific pesticide may have impacts on endangered species or critical habitats, it will immediately initiate a formal consultation process with relevant professional institutions. During the consultation process, relevant institutions will take the final biological evaluation results released by the EPA as an important basis, further conduct in - depth analysis on the specific mechanism and degree of the pesticide's impacts, and form guiding biological opinions. If it is found in the analysis process that specific mitigation measures need to be taken to reduce the adverse impacts of pesticides on endangered species and critical habitats, the EPA will be responsible for ensuring that these mitigation measures can be implemented through necessary means such as pesticide registration changes or product label revisions, so as to effectively ensure the survival safety of endangered species and the ecological stability of critical habitats.