for the first time, the us environmental protection agency ( usepa ) has cancelled a company's license to grow genetically modified ( gm ) crop. The license to grow StarLink, a gm corn, was cancelled after it was reported to be present in two popular edible brand products. The corn was approved in 1998 for use as animal feed but not for human consumption because it can cause allergic reactions. "Aventis SA, the developer of the corn, has violated the terms and conditions of the license,' said Stephen Johnson, deputy assistant administrator of the agency. Officials of Aventis said that it had made it compulsory for farmers growing Starlink to use the corn for animal feed or industrial use only. But according to Johnson, some growers did not sign such an agreement.