Agriculture Minister Terry Redman and Premier Colin Barnett yesterday approved an exemption order under the Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Act 2003 to permit the cultivation of GM canola, arguing the move will offer growers added choice in their cropping systems.

The decision was welcomed by farmer groups, including WAFarmers which says new GM canola varieties offer farmers the potential for superior weed control, higher yields and oil quality, environmental benefits and better returns than current conventional varieties.

"To date, WA farmers have had to stand by while growers in the eastern States and around the world have had the choice to use this technology," WAFarmers director of policy Alan Hill said. "Today this changes, and our farmers can continue to meet the needs of a growing population."

However, the Gene Ethics Network says the move actually ignores consumer demands, and is providing State politicians with the data needed to reject the exemption order when it comes up for review.

"Redman and Barnett are sacrificing the state's unique competitive advantage and premium prices for GM-free foods available in global canola markets," Gene Ethics director Bob Phelps said.

"WA, SA and Tasmania are the only reliable exporters of GM-free canola world-wide and we are reaping the rewards.

"The Premier and Minister are misusing their power and shirking their responsibility to declare GM and GM-free Zones over all or part of the state to protect and promote the markets for clean, green, GM-free WA foods.

"Most Western Australian shoppers, and shoppers in our top-five markets overseas - Netherlands, France, Pakistan, Japan and Belgium - want to stay GM-free.

"We should not side with our main GM competitor Canada against the wishes of our customers. It's just bad business."

However, Mr Hill said that GM would not replace traditional varieties of canola but instead would provide some farmers with an additional tool that they could use to manage weeds and pests, with the potential to increase yields and returns.

GM canola varieties available in Australia have been deemed safe for human health and the environment by the Australian Gene Technology Regulator since 2003.