ON the eve of the national debate on GM foods, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors this week demanded a stringent land registration scheme to avoid chaos with any widespread introduction of genetically modified crops.

The Government is obliged, under European law, to keep a register of areas where GM crops are being grown, but the RICS is concerned that not enough thought has been given to drawing up and maintaining such a register.

"GM crops do not respect boundary lines and this is one of the biggest problems," said the RICS. "People have a right to know if their neighbours are growing GM crops as it may have an impact on their future land use decisions and ultimately the value of their property.

"This problem is not restricted to the countryside; people living on the outskirts of urban areas will be equally affected."

The RICS believed the location of GM crops must be strictly registered; interested parties notified well in advance of planting, and the public given full access to all information. It was not convinced that the current plans for a register would accurately record where GM crops were being grown.

An accurate register was essential for a farmer wishing to buy or rent land for organic or non-GM production or an individual wishing to buy or lease a property with a garden to grow organic or non-GM vegetables and plants. It was also essential for someone wishing to buy or lease allotments or other land for the same purpose; existing organic or non- GM farmers who needed to know the farming intentions of their neighbours; financial institutions lending against land and property; and consumer choice of GM and non-GM food and other products.

The RICS believes the onus on supplying the location of GM crops should be on the organisation applying for the marketing consent - the relevant biotech company. It wants the information to be available at least two months ahead of planting on an internet-based system and based on the largest-scale Ordnance Survey map.

* The regional conference on the national GM debate is in the Pavilions conference suite at the Great Yorkshire Showground next Friday, June 13, at 2pm. It will be in the form of a workshop with individual tables discussing the subject and giving their views. The findings of the workshops will be contained in a report to the Government.

Free tickets to take part, or materials to hold debates elsewhere, are available from Lee Hancock on 0207 2618616.