Bayer CropScience have withdrawn 6 of their 9 UK GM crop varieties from the UK national seed list (NSL) process. Being placed on the NSL is essential for any crop variety to be grown commercially in the UK, by removing these GM varieties from the seed listing process Bayer have more than halved the number of GM crop varieties that might be grown commercially in the UK

Bayer now have only three GM varieties (one winter oil seed rape (PHW01-429), one spring oil seed rape (PH96S452), Chardon LL maize) still going through the NSL process. Syngenta/Monsanto also have two GM sugar beets (Pacific and Sturgeon) still going through the NSL process. All of these varieties have completed their NSL field trials.

It is interesting to note that Bayer's only 2 GM varieties that have still to complete NSL field trials (Winter Oil Seed Rape PW01-441 and PW01-450) have been withdrawn. In 2002-2003 growing season the majority of Bayer's GM NSL field trials either failed to establish or were destroyed by members of the public or both.

The withdrawn GM varieties are:

Spring Oilseed Rape
35/959 (gm) ARCHIMEDES withdrawn 14-NOV-03
35/1211 (gm) PH96S443 withdrawn 14-DEC-03

Winter Oilseed Rape
35/1174 (gm) PHW98-407 . withdrawn 14-NOV-03
35/1494 (gm) PHW01-441 . withdrawn 14-NOV-03
35/1629 (gm) PHW02-450 . withdrawn 14-NOV-03

Maize
51/886 (gm) SHERIDAN . withdrawn 24-NOV-03