An assessment of the spread or recession of common ragwort in the countryside has not been made, although the latest data from the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland indicate that it is still widespread. There is no general legal duty on Government to monitor levels of ragwort across the countryside.

Defra’s code of practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort [see attached] states that humans may be at risk from ragwort poisoning through direct contact (e.g. hand pulling) however the Food and Environment Research Agency’s 2013 review of evidence concerning ragwort impacts, ecology and control options concluded that there is no evidence of human illness or fatalities resulting from ragwort. Links to further evidence can be found in this FOI release: Risk to humans from ragwort poisoning - GOV.UK [see attached].

Ragwort is classified as an Injurious Weed under the Weeds Act because it can be toxic to livestock when included in dry hay, or where livestock have nothing else to eat. Ragwort is a native plant that is valuable to a wide diversity of generalist pollinators, particularly in parched summer conditions when it can be the main nectar resource in a landscape.

An assessment of the spread or recession of common ragwort in the countryside has not been made, although the latest data from the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland indicate that it is still widespread. There is no general legal duty on Government to monitor levels of ragwort across the countryside.

Defra’s code of practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort [see attached] states that humans may be at risk from ragwort poisoning through direct contact (e.g. hand pulling) however the Food and Environment Research Agency’s 2013 review of evidence concerning ragwort impacts, ecology and control options concluded that there is no evidence of human illness or fatalities resulting from ragwort. Links to further evidence can be found in this FOI release: Risk to humans from ragwort poisoning - GOV.UK [see attached].

Ragwort is classified as an Injurious Weed under the Weeds Act because it can be toxic to livestock when included in dry hay, or where livestock have nothing else to eat. Ragwort is a native plant that is valuable to a wide diversity of generalist pollinators, particularly in parched summer conditions when it can be the main nectar resource in a landscape.

The published Ragwort code of practice (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5cd93824e5274a38bf503d1d/code-of-practice-on-how-to-prevent-the-spread-of-ragwort.pdf ) is in place to provide advice to landowners and managers to prevent ragwort spreading where it presents a high risk of poisoning horses and livestock or spreading to fields used for the production of forage.

In the past 12 months, no notices in relation to ragwort control have been served to National Highways, and there have been no prosecutions under the Weeds Act 1959 or the Code of Practice.

The Department does not hold data on notices or prosecutions relating to ragwort control by local highway authorities.

There are no plans to issue legislation to impose legal duties on landowners to restrict the growth of ragwort. The Government’s ‘Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort’ (see attached) sets out guidance for landowners on when and how common ragwort should be removed, taking into account both animal welfare and environmental considerations.

The Code does not seek to eradicate common ragwort, but only seeks to control its spread where it poses a high risk of spreading to agricultural land, for example land used for grazing.

National Highways recognises that ragwort poisoning can have a devastating effect on horses, as well as being damaging to cattle and other animals. However, in the right place, and where there is no risk to animal welfare, ragwort contributes to the biodiversity of the flora and fauna of the countryside.

On the strategic road network, where ragwort presents a high risk of poisoning horses and livestock or spreading to fields used for the production of forage, National Highways prevents ragwort spreading. National Highways policy for Common Ragwort control applies Defra’s ‘Code of Practice on how to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort’.

There are no plans to issue Local Authorities with guidance. The Government Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort supports the public by providing guidance on the most appropriate means of ragwort control, taking into account both animal welfare and environmental considerations.

Defra’s injurious weeds policy aims to balance a variety of different interests. Injurious weeds, which include common ragwort, form part of our native plant communities, supporting a wide variety of invertebrates and are a major nectar source for many insects.

The ‘Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort’ sets out guidance for all landowners, including those in the public sector, on when and how common ragwort should be removed.

The Code does not seek to eradicate common ragwort, but only seeks to control its spread where it poses a high risk of spreading to agricultural land, for example land used for grazing.

Defra’s injurious weeds policy aims to balance a variety of different interests in the countryside. We have not made an assessment of the effectiveness of the Ragwort Control Act 2003, as this Act amends the Weeds Act 1959 by inserting a provision enabling the Secretary of State to produce statutory guidance in the form of a ‘code of practice’ on how to prevent the spread of ragwort.

The Secretary of State published a code of practice in 2004, which aims to define the situations in which there is a likelihood of ragwort spreading to neighbouring land where it will then present an identifiable risk of ingestions by vulnerable animals, and to provide guidance on the most appropriate means of control, taking into account both animal welfare and environmental considerations. This is available on the GOV.UK website.

Natural England is the responsible authority for investigating complaints about injurious weeds under the Weeds Act 1959 in England and collects data on injurious weeds complaints to monitor the number of complaints in each season. This data is reviewed annually by Defra and Natural England, and from the 2018 season this data is available on data.gov.uk.

We have not made an assessment of the effectiveness of the Ragwort Control Act 2003, as this Act amends the Weeds Act 1959 by inserting a provision enabling the Secretary of State to produce statutory guidance in the form of a ‘code of practice’ on how to prevent the spread of ragwort. The Secretary of State, published a code of practice in 2004 and this is available on the gov.uk website.

Defra injurious weeds policy aims to balance a variety of different interests in the countryside. This is reflected in the published ‘Code of Practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort’.

Natural England is the responsible authority for investigating complaints about injurious weeds, and collects data on injurious weeds complaints to monitor the number of complaints in each season. This data is reviewed annually by Defra and Natural England and from the 2018 season this data is available on data.gov.uk.

Guidance is available on the ‘Prevent harmful weeds and invasive non-native plants spreading’ GOV.UK webpage. Additionally, the ‘Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort’ sets out guidance for all landowners, including local authorities, on when and how ragwort should be removed.

Highways England’s policy is to remove any immediate threat of ragwort from roadsides and other land which it is responsible for in accordance with the Defra Code of practice. This includes such action as cutting back, herbicide treatment or uprooting.

The effectiveness of this Act is assessed annually by recording details of complaints and enforcement cases. Research undertaken for Defra in 2013 concluded that ragwort is not becoming more widespread.

The Ragwort Control Act 2003 contains provision for a Code of Practice for the management and control of ragwort.

Common ragwort is one of the five, so called ‘injurious weeds’ and is toxic to grazing livestock including horses, so the priority is to protect them where there is a risk of them ingesting dead, dying or green ragwort. The Government recognises the impact that ragwort ingestion can have and we ask that landowners take all reasonable steps to ensure that ragwort does not spread from their land onto adjoining land, where it poses a risk to grazing livestock, land used for grazing or to produce hay/forage. Where complaints are received and there is a genuine risk to grazing livestock then action to ensure compliance is taken with private individuals or public bodies.

The Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort is not being withdrawn. The Code will remain available on the GOV.UK website and all interested parties will be consulted if any changes are made in the future.

The Ragwort Control Act 2003 makes no provision for control orders. The purpose of the Act is to provide for a code of practice to give guidance on how to prevent the spread of ragwort to be prepared. This resulted in the Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort which was published in 2004.

Natural England, the delegated authority for investigating complaints about injurious weeds, can issue enforcement notices under the Weeds Act 1959 where ragwort poses a high risk to grazing livestock or agricultural land.

The number of enforcement notices served under the Weeds Act 1959 in 2013, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:

Enforcement is a last resort and where possible we encourage communications between landowners and complainants to try and resolve the issue. In the vast majority of cases this approach is successful.

We have not assessed the effectiveness of the Code of Practice. We are, however, continuing to review our policy on ragwort, including a review of the current evidence to ensure that we minimise the risk of injury to horses and other grazing livestock. This work will highlight what changes, if any, might be needed to the Code of Practice.

The number of enforcement notices served under the Weeds Act 1959 in 2013, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:

Enforcement is a last resort and where possible we encourage communications between landowners and complainants to try and resolve the issue. In the vast majority of cases this approach is successful.

The names of those who have been served with enforcement notices are withheld in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

The Highways Agency has an obligation to take account of ragwort and other injurious weeds growing on verges and other land for which it is responsible. In common with other landowners they are subject to the provisions of the Weeds Act 1959 as amended by the Ragwort Control Act 2003.

On roadsides along the Strategic Road Network and other land under its control the Agency requires its service providers to follow the Defra Code of Practice to control ragwort. The code promotes a risk based approach with targeted use of control measures in locations close to land used either for animal grazing or fodder production. The principle measures used by the Agency are spot treatment with herbicide in spring and early summer followed by hand pulling of the weed later in the season.

[holding answer 10 September 2013]: Responsibility for ragwort control rests with land owners and occupiers, who are expected to adhere to Ragwort Code of Practice (2003). Where the code has not been adhered to, Natural England will investigate complaints and take any appropriate enforcement action. My ministerial colleague, the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Newbury (Richard Benyon), wrote to over 500 public bodies in February this year reminding them of their responsibilities under the code.

DEFRA is currently working with interested parties to establish what more can be done to encourage ragwort control; this includes improving the current evidence base, as well as considering various options for streamlining the complaint process.

Responsibility for the control of ragwort rests with the landowner or occupier in the first instance. A complainant concerned about the spread of ragwort, or any of the other injurious weeds specified in the Weeds Act, should contact the owner or occupier of the land in question to address the problem.

If reasonable efforts are not made by those responsible, the complainant should contact Natural England which has been delegated responsibility for investigating complaints about ragwort and other injurious weeds and, where necessary, for taking the appropriate enforcement action. However, neither Natural England nor Defra have the resources to investigate all weeds complaints. In determining what follow up action is to be taken, priority is given to complaints involving possible spread to land being used for:

Keeping or grazing horses and other livestock;

Farmland used to produce conserved forage, and;

Other agricultural land activities.

In order to assist public bodies (along with other landowners and occupiers) in fulfilling their responsibilities, the Government amended the Weeds Act with the Ragwort Control Act 2003. This provided for a Code of Practice on preventing Ragwort spread. My colleague, Richard Benyon, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary

of State wrote to land owning Public bodies and over 500 local authorities in February this year reminding them of their responsibilities under the Act and enclosing our Code of Practice.