HEREFORDSHIRE councillors are making a bid to root out genetically-modified crops in the county, writes Roy Lewis.

The authority's environmental programme panel has produced a list of measures to put pressure on the Government to rethink its policy.

Members of the panel declared that it did not support the growing of the crops and called for its policy to be reviewed in five years time or when scientific evidence on GMOs was acceptable to them.

The council decided to re-word all new farm tenancies, prohibiting the growing of GM crops on council-owned land.

"The council cannot prohibit existing tenants from growing GM crops. However, they will advise existing tenants of the council's stance on this matter and request them not to grow GM crops on council-owned land," states the council minute.

The authority also intends to take steps to ensure that GM ingredients are not included in school meals or meals provided in other council establishments, such as leisure centres and residential homes.

And it agreed to ask for reassurance from the Government about the safety of GM crops, particularly in areas near experimental husbandry farms.

Said Trish Marsh, environmental sustainability officer, "The council can only put pressure on the Government. We want to discuss what measures are practical and what areas we can control."

After an earlier meeting of the cabinet, council leader Councillor Terry James said the authority was concerned about the total lack of consultation with both the public in general and the council itself over the issue of GM crop trials.

"We are therefore pressing Government, through the Local Government Association, to take on board the comments and recommendations many local authorities are making," he said.

"This is causing great anger and concern in Herefordshire where farming is still one of the major employment opportunities for the people of the county."

The cabinet recommended that the Local Government Association be asked to press the Government to re-evaluate the separation distance between GM trial sites and organic farms.

Members also pressed for the environmental health and trading standards to undertake honey sampling in Herefordshire at sites near to GM crops for the presence of genetically- modified pollen.

Councillor Chris Grover, chairman of the environment programme panel, said: "At the present time we are not willing to support the growing of GM crops in Herefordshire.

"We are listening to the people in Herefordshire who are concerned about the potential effects on human health, biodiversity and farm viability," continued Councillor Grover. The new GM policy will be considered by the council when they meet next month.