Invasive species and injurious weeds

This subtopic covers the regulation of invasive non-native plant species (also known as introduced, exotic or alien species) and injurious weeds in England and Wales. (It does not cover the regulation of plant health).

Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) are plants and animals that have been introduced to an area outside of their normal geographic range and which can have a detrimental impact on biodiversity or cause significant environmental or economic costs. Injurious or noxious weeds are native or naturalised species that grow naturally across much of the UK. They can be poisonous or invasive and can have a significant impact on agriculture, woodlands and biodiversity.

In the UK, the management of INNS is governed by a combination of international conventions, assimilated EU legislation, domestic regulation and strategic action plans.

International conventions

The UK is party to the following key conventions in relation to invasive or alien species:

•
the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention), was adopted in 1979 and came into force in 1982. Article 11(2)(b) of the Bern Convention states that each Contracting Party undertakes to ‘strictly control the

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