An enforcement regime to stop the sale of illegal invasive species has come onto the statue books in England and Wales.
The Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 came into effect on December 1, 2019, which means enforcement agencies such as the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) now have sanctions and penalties they can use to pursue people who sell banned invasive species.
The APHA now has the power to pursue any individual or company, whether in a shop or online, who is offering banned aquatic plants or terrapins for sale. Those found guilty can face a fine and/or jail.
To report illegal sales of banned invasive plants in England and Wales, call your local APHA Plant Health and Seeds Inspector or the PHSI headquarters on 01904 405138, or email [email protected]
In Scotland, contact the Scottish Government’s Horticulture and Marketing Unit on 0131 244 8935, or email [email protected]
In Northern Ireland, contact the DARD Plant Health Inspection Branch on 0300 200 7847, or email [email protected]
BANNED LIST
Pond plants that are banned from sale are:
Water fern (Azolla filiculoides)
Parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides)
Australian swamp stone crop (New Zealand Pygmyweed) (Crassula helmsii)
Water primrose (Ludwigia grandiflora)
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana)
Curly waterweed (Lagarosiphon major often inaccurately called Elodea crispa)
American skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus)
Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)
Senegal tea plant (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides)
