Councillors in Co Meath have called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban the growth of 'experimental', or genetically modified, crops in the county.
Meath County Council today unanimously passed motions declaring the county 'GM free' and asking the EPA to disallow such experiments.
The EPA last week granted permission for field trials of genetically modified potatoes to begin on a farm at Arodstown, near Summerhill, Co Meath.
The one-hectare site will be used to develop a more blight-resistant potato. Crops grown during the trial will not be made available for human or animal consumption.
Field trials of genetically modified foods have not been licensed in the Republic since 1998 when an experiment in Co Carlow ended with protesters destroying the plants.
German firm BASF Plant Science GmbH, an affiliate of the German multi-national BASF, has been granted the licence to carry out the trials.
The EPA said the permission was for field trials only, and should not be confused with permission to place genetically modified products on the market.
The organisation GM Free Ireland has claimed the experiment could undermine the Republic's food marketing drive. Anti GM protesters held a meeting in Navan, Co Meath earlier this week.