It acts by inhibiting the enzyme protoporphyrinogen oxidase to control broadleaf and some grass weeds in crops including cereals and canola.

In 1985, chemists at the Dr. R. Maag subsidiary of Hoffmann-La Roche filed patents for uracil derivatives which had herbicidal activity.

[4] In 1990 the agrochemical interests of Maag were sold to Ciba-Geigy[5] and work continued to optimise this area of biological activity.

[11][12] Butafenacil is registered for use in Australia,[9][13] Argentina, Brazil, Japan, and Thailand but not now in the European Union or USA, although it was conditionally given approval there in 2003.

It is effective post-emergence on a very wide range of species including Arctotheca calendula, Avena fatua, Bidens pilosa, Boerhavia diffusa, Brassica napus, Brassica tournefortii, Bromus diandrus, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Carthamus lanatus, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium pumilio, Cirsium acaule, Echinochloa crus-galli, Emex australis, Erodium botrys, Erodium cicutarium, Festuca arundinacea, Hordeum leporinum, Hypochaeris radicata, Lamium amplexicaule, Lolium rigidum, Lupinus angustifolius, Malva parviflora, Medicago sativa, Modiola caroliniana, Panicum capillare, Panicum effusum, Phalaris paradoxa, Polygonum aviculare, Portulaca oleracea, Raphanus raphanistrum, Rapistrum rugosum, Rumex acetosella, Rumex crispus, Salvia reflexa, Sisymbrium orientale, Sonchus oleraceus, Tribulus terrestris, Urochloa panicoides, Urtica urens, Vicia sativa and Vulpia bromoides.