http://www.forbes.com/home_europe/newswire/2003/12/18/rtr1186107.html

Bayer pulls GM seed applications in UK
Reuters, 12.18.03, 12:26 PM ET

LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Bayer CropScience, the UK arm of German drugs and
chemicals giant Bayer, has withdrawn six applications for approval of
genetically modified (GMO) seed varieties from the UK's National Seed List,
a spokesman for the company said on Thursday.

Securing a place on the National Seed List is a vital step for firms seeking
to sell GM seeds commercially in the UK.

Once on the list, the seed varieties undergo extensive trials around the
country to determine their viability.

"Under EU rules, seed varieties, whether GM (nyse: GM - news - people) or
non-GM are only approved if they offer additional benefits to those that are
already on the market," Bayer spokesman Julian Little told Reuters.

"Because some of these varieties fall short of what is available, we have
decided to withdraw those particular applications," Little added.

The company said the applications were for three seed varieties of winter
rapeseed, two seed types of spring rapeseed and one seed application for
fodder maize.

Bayer CropScience said it still had applications for up to four other
applications for GM rapeseed varieties were still being considered for
National Seed List approval.

Earlier this year, Bayer 's UK unit said it was discontinuing all field
trials of GM crops because if feared that the plants would be destroyed by
activists after the government told the firm all trial sites had to be made
public.

No GM crops are currently grown on a commercial basis in Britain, but the
government is under pressure to decide on their future and plans to make an
announcement in the New Year.


FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
Press Release
Embargo: 00:01 Friday 19 December

Six UK GM seed applications withdrawn by Bayer

Six applications for approval of GM seed varieties have been withdrawn from the UK's National Seed List by Bayer CropScience. The company has informed DEFRA it wants to withdraw three varieties of winter oilseed rape, two varieties of spring oilseed rape and one variety of fodder maize [1]. No reason has been given for the withdrawal to DEFRA but it is likely to be for "commercial" reasons.

This leaves just five GM applications for UK seed listing - two beet, one spring oilseed, one winter oilseed and one fodder maize. The remaining
fodder maize is the controversial ChardonLL which was subject to lengthy public hearings in 2000 and 2002 [2]. All varieties withdrawn are resistant
to Bayer's herbicide Glufosinate Ammonium.

Securing a place on the National Seed List [3] is an important step in the GM seed approval process and is important for the commercial success of any
seed variety in the UK.

The results of the Farm Scale Evaluations, published in October, reported results from the trials involving spring oilseed rape and fodder maize. The results for spring oilseed rape showed that the GM variety management caused
significant reductions in weeds and weed seed production indicating that long term harm to biodiversity would arse from its commercial cultivations.

The Fodder maize results were the reserve but the results have been questioned by many because of the failure to assess the yield and quality of
the GM maize and the EU ban on atrazine - the herbicide used on the majority of the non-GM maize crops in the FSE [4].

Commenting Pete Riley of Friends of the Earth said:

"The latest withdrawals suggest that Bayer is not convinced that their GM varieties will compare well with modern conventional varieties. The
Government should take note of this decision and recognise that the current generation of herbicide tolerant crops do not make commercial sense.

These crops have the capacity to further damage UK wildlife which is already under pressure in arable regions. Key issues of contamination and liability
are not close to being resolved because practical and enforceable solutions to protect GM free status cannot be agreed. The Government should act to
ensure that the UK remains GM free and prevent further GM crop cultivation taking place".

1.  http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pvs/Dec03gaz.pdf

2. The Government received the summary of the Chardon LLL hearing in October 2002. For Chardon LL to be added the National List of Varieties
(the Seed List) all the governments of the UK have to agree.

3. Seeds intended for marketing in the UK undergo National List Trials around the country to establish that they have value for cultivation and use
(VCU) in this country.

4. See
 http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmenv
aud/uc1239-iii/uc123902.htm


Contact: Pete Riley, Friends of the Earth "Real Food" Campaign - 07 712 843
210

there has been a concerted campaign against bayer since august, with over 30 actions having occured across the country. no small guess to assume this had something to do with it?
www.stopbayergm.org
for more info.

There has been campaigns against Bayer for well over a decade.
There have been actions against Bayer in the UK since before they had even completed the deal to buy Aventis. Don't kid yourself that dropping these varieties has anything to do with a bit of superglue and minor harasment. They have kept on three crop varities and it is likely that the others were dropped because of agronomic reasons (ie. they aren't any good and will cost more to commercialise than they will gain it sales). The very fact that they have retained three varieties disproves your somewhat wishful suggestion that it is the EF! campaign that has led them to this position.

However, I am not suggesting that the campaign against them will not work, I just wish you'd not make false and boastful claims.

The campaign is certainly annoying them. Expect to see real evidence of that real soon.