The Act came into operation in WA on December 24, 2003.

It prohibits the cultivation of certain genetically modified (GM) crops in designated areas of WA and provides for their destruction in certain cases.

The Act requires a review to be carried out five years after its commencement and for a report to be tabled in State Parliament by December 24, 2009.

Former parliamentary counsel Greg Calcutt has been appointed to undertake the review.

"The review will look at the need for the Act and whether it is appropriate; its operations and effectiveness; and the orders prohibiting the cultivation of GM crops and the granting of exemptions," Mr Redman said.

"Submissions from the public relating to the Act are welcome; however, this review is not a general inquiry into gene technology and GM organisms.

"Issues such as the safety and labelling of GM foods, legal liability, use of pesticides, intellectual property and the role of multinationals are not covered by the scope of this review.

"The review also does not relate to the policy behind the current GM canola trials being undertaken in WA.

"It will look at the effectiveness of the Act, rather than what policy should or should not be implemented via the Act."

Network of Concerned Farmers national spokesperson Julie Newman said the review of the act deliberately excluded all of the risks associated with GMs and the serious concerns about the lack of accountability in using them.

"It's pretty obvious that the act is not effective if the minister has authorised large scale commercial growing of GM crops when there is a moratorium which is supposed to ban them," she said.

"The review already seems to have a pre-set agenda.

"We don't want to grow GM and we don't want our rights removed."

Gene Ethics director Bob Phelps said the "so-called review" may eliminate the checks and balances on GM crops.

The public submission period will run from July 17 to August 14.