Bayer Faces Roundup Woes in Germany as Ministry Urges Retreat

Germany’s Environment Ministry laid out a plan Nov. 6 for a step-by-step retreat from glyphosate, the weedkiller that has been a thorn in Bayer AG’s side since its $63 billion acquisition of Monsanto Co.

The plan calls for a ban on the chemical—the active ingredient in Bayer’s Roundup herbicide—in areas that are environmentally sensitive or important for groundwater. The new rules also would make it tougher for farmers to use similar chemicals that kill a broad range of plants and insects, requiring them to reserve acreage for pesticide-free planting as well.

“There’s nothing gained for the environment if instead of ...