Insecticide to be banned by France because of adverse effects on bees

France, the European Union’s largest agricultural producer, plans to ban Syngenta AG’s Cruiser insecticide for some uses after the national food- security agency said a study showed adverse effects on honeybees.

“We have a scientific opinion here that changes the data,” Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll said at a press conference in Paris after receiving a report from the agency, known as Anses. Syngenta has 15 days to appeal the decision.

Cruiser is used as a seed coating for crops including corn and rapeseed. The agriculture ministry in March asked Anses to examine the pesticide’s approval for use on rapeseed after a study on bee toxicity. The ministry has said it would start a procedure to withdraw approval for the Syngenta product if warranted by new science.