EU to Widen Ban on Pesticides Linked to Harming Bees

The European Union will widen a ban on pesticides linked to harming bees, a move that could threaten output of some crops and put pressure on insecticide makers such as Bayer AG and Syngenta AG.

EU governments voted April 27 in Brussels to prohibit the use of neonicotinoids everywhere except greenhouses. Sixteen nations approved the restriction proposed by the European Commission, leading to a positive result under “weighted-majority” rules. The measure will be adopted by the commission, the EU’s regulatory arm, in the coming weeks and take effect by year-end.

Neonicotinoids, which are used as seed coatings and protect plants ...