WILTSHIRE County Council has been urged to make a more public stand on keeping the county free from genetically modified crops.

According to the environmental pressure group Friends of the Earth, the county council could be a weak link in the South West because it has not passed a resolution opposing GM crops and food.

As part of Friends of the Earth's GM-free Britain campaign, 50 councils across the country have now passed such resolutions.

Wiltshire County Council says it has done what it can to protect its own land but believes a resolution is unnecessary because it is up to the Government to decide farming policy. The council has banned its contractors from using GM ingred-ients and has told farmers on its land they cannot grow GM crops.

Wiltshire is the fourth largest maize growing area in Britain and has the largest percentage 8.8 per cent of organically managed land in the South West.

Jean Saunders, spokesperson for Wiltshire Friends of the Earth said: "We would like to give the council a pat on the back for what it has achieved but we would like to see it go a little further. We would like to see it pass a resolution to send a message to the Government.

"The Government has failed to appreciate the strong demand by consumers for GM-free food or the need to ensure that farmers are able to meet this demand without

the threat of GM contamination.

"Wiltshire County Council has got to ensure that our local food, farming and environment are protected from the threat of GM contamination and that we don't kiss goodbye to the expanding organic farming market in the county."

To be classed as organic, crops must be completely uncontaminated by GM material, and animals cannot be fed on GM foods.

A county council spokesman said the council had discussed the issue in November and although a resolution against GM foods had not been passed, other measures were taken.

All tenant farmers on council land have been sent a letter advising them that to grow GM crops would be considered a breach of good husbandry, and that the council would take action.

Also, all council contractors, such as companies providing school dinners, are obliged not to use GM crops.

Anthony Osborne