Three broadly used pesticides made by Switzerland's Syngenta and Germany's Bayer pose a threat to honeybees, the E.U. Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said yesterday.

Responding to the report by EFSA, the European Commission said that if the findings are confirmed, it would take the necessary steps, raising the possibility of E.U.-wide restrictions on three pesticides.

EFSA analyzed clothianidin and imidacloprid, which are produced primarily by Bayer's agricultural unit Bayer CropScience, and Syngenta's thiamethoxam, the active ingredient in Cruiser OSR.

Bees are important pollinators of flowering plants, including many fruit and vegetable crops.

The E.U. scientists found no link between use of the pesticides and the phenomenon known as bee colony collapse disorder (Charlie Dunmore, Reuters, Jan. 17). -- KJ