It wasn’t until May 1962 that the UK government issued an official warning. (Grünenthal had withdrawn Thalidomide at the end of November 1961, their British licensee partner Distillers followed suit in early December 1961).

Source: The Thalidomide Society (UK)

Thalidomide removed from the market in CanadaUK government warning issuedGrünenthal still ... mide and malformations