Washington (CNN) The Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday that it will approve the expanded use of a pesticide that's known to harm bees and other pollinators.

The insecticide, called sulfoxaflor, will be allowed for use on some crops for the first time and in areas that were prohibited under the Obama administration. An EPA report this week notes that some forms of the pesticide can be "very highly toxic" to bees.

EPA official Alexandra Dapolito Dunn said Friday on a briefing call that the pesticide is the only product that can protect crops to prevent economic losses with a limited environmental impact and "strong protection for pollinators."

She said the EPA had decided to allow the expanded use of the pesticide based on studies that say it disappears from the environment faster than viable alternatives. Dapolito Dunn acknowledged these studies were largely produced by industry groups, but said that is the norm as those groups have the resources to produce the studies.

The EPA will require a statement on product labels that says: "This product is highly toxic to bees and other pollinating insects exposed to direct treatment or to residues in/on blooming crops or weeds. Protect pollinating insects by following label directions intended to minimize drift and reduce pesticide risk to these organisms."