On 09/11/04 Bayer CropScience removed the last 2 GM crop varieties still in the approval process for the UK national seed list. This is the final nail in the coffin for the commercial growing of the first generation of GM crops in the UK. Since 1994 58 different GM crop varieties have begun the process to be included on the UK national seed list and so be available for commercial growing. All 58 applications have now been abandoned.

When Bayer CropScience backed out of commercialising GM fodder maize (Chardon LL) back in spring 2004 they were full of claims about how this wasn't the end of their plans for GM crops in the UK and that they would be commercialising GM oilseed rape by 2008. This now seems to have been empty posturing to avoid loosing face, as the 2 varieties of GM oilseed rape that they still had in the commercialisation pipeline (PGS PHW99429 and PGS PH96s452) have now been abandoned.

for more details on the withdrawn crops go to the DEFRA Plant varieties and seeds public register webpages
 http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pvs/pubreg/preg06.htm
 http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pvs/pubreg/preg03.htm

for previous postings on the withdrawal of GM crop varieties
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/03/287108.html
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/03/287034.html
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/12/283128.html
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/12/283007.html