[4] The nitrophenyl ethers are a well-known class of herbicides, the oldest member of which was nitrofen, invented by Rohm & Haas and first registered for sale in 1964.

[11] Chemists at the Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) research site at Jealott's Hill, UK, investigated this area to attempt to find their own intellectual property and develop a proprietary material that could compete in the market.

[13] The now-accepted explanation for the damage is that these compounds inhibit the enzyme protoporphyrinogen oxidase, which leads to an accumulation of protoporphyrin IX in the plant cells.

The purpose of the label is "to provide clear directions for effective product performance while minimizing risks to human health and the environment".

It controls or suppresses broadleaf weeds, grasses and sedges in soybeans and is effective on a very wide range of weed species including Abutilon theophrasti, Acalypha ostryifolia, Acanthospermum hispidum, Amaranthus palmeri, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Anoda cristata, Barbarea vulgaris, Brassica kaber, Calystegia sepium, Cannabis sativa, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Cassia obtusifolia, Chenopodium album, Citrullus vulgaris, Convolvulus arvensis, Croton glandulosus, Cucumis melo, Cyperus esculentus, Datura stramonium, Digitaria, Echinochloa crus-galli, Eleusine indica, Euphorbia heterophylla, Helianthus annuus, Hibiscus trionum, Ipomoea quamoclit, Melochia corchorifolia, Mollugo verticillata, Polygonum pensylvanicum, Portulaca oleracea, Richardia scabra, Sesbania exaltata, Setaria faberi, Solanum carolinense, Sorghum halepense, Striga asiatica and Xanthium strumarium.

[17] The estimated annual use of fomesafen in US agriculture is mapped by the US Geological Service and shows that in 2018, the latest date for which figures are available, approximately 6,000,000 pounds (2,700,000 kg) were applied — mainly in soybean.

[20] The environmental fate and ecotoxicology of fomesafen are summarised in the Pesticide Properties database[1] The compound was used in a case study that developed methods for conducting nationwide endangered species assessments in the USA.