THE Victorian Government has rejected moves by several shires to declare themselves GM-free zones.

Greater Bendigo, Yarra Ranges, South Gippsland, Moreland, East Gippsland and Bass Coast in Victoria have declared themselves GM free, in the wake of the Government lifting the ban on genetically modified canola earlier this year.

They want the Government to officially declare them GM-free zones.

But a spokesman said the Government supported giving Victorian farmers choice on the crops they grew.

"This support remains," he said.

Yarra Ranges shire councillor Samantha Dunn said the Government could declare shires GM-free zones under the federal GM act.

She said shires could make the declaration as an ideological position, but there was no legal framework to back it up.

"It's a response to the aspirations of the community," Cr Dunn said.

"We have a large agriculture sector and we see clean and green practices as a way of marketing our shire."

Nillumbik GM-free co-ordinator Greg Revell said he was part of a movement to encourage Nillumbik council, on Melbourne's northern outskirts, to declare itself GM-free.

Mr Revell, a volunteer with anti-GM lobby group GeneEthics, said while the councils could not stop GM grain being planted, the declaration sent a strong message.

"It's similar to the campaign for nuclear-free zones in the 1980s," Mr Revell said.

"It aims to create enough energy to have the Government have a rethink."

Bairnsdale cropping and livestock producer Trevor Caithness said a minority anti-GM group had stripped farmers of their right to choose.

"The disappointing thing about this decision by the shire is it has taken the choice away from individual farmers and businesses," he said.

Victorian Farmers Federation South Gippsland branch member Meg Parkinson said pro-GM farmers should not be complacent about the campaign.

"My concern is that those running the campaign in councils are doing it as part of a larger campaign," Ms Parkinson said.

Organic dairy goat producer Emma Gurnsey, of Mt Taylor, was thrilled with East Gippsland Shire's decision.

"All the organic producers are really happy about the decision, it is good for us," she said.

"We put in submissions on the basis that it would put our organic status at risk if there were to become GM contamination or GM superweeds.

"Our export markets could also be at risk."