The growing of GM crops in Britain has been shelved for the "foreseeable future", the government has announced.

German company Bayer CropScience, the only firm deemed eligible to grow GM maize in the UK, has decided not to go ahead, blaming government-imposed conditions for making it "economically non-viable", as production would be stalled for too long.

"The specific details of these conditions are still not available and thus will result in yet another 'open-ended period' of delay," it said in a statement.

"These uncertainties and undefined timelines will make this five-year old variety economically non-viable."

However, environment minister Elliot Morley defended the government's stance on the issue.

"We do not apologise for the fact three is a tough EU-wide regulatory regime on GMs," he said.

"It applies to the whole of the EU not just the UK.

"WE always said it would be for the market to decide the viability of growing and selling GM once the government assessed safety and risk.

"Number 10's strategy unit report on the costs and benefits of GM last year did say there would be limited short-term commercial benefits in the UK for growing GM."