[holding answer 12 June 2009]: We have no plans to make either the native hogweed or the invasive non-native giant hogweed “notifiable” weeds.
The Weeds Act 1959 is a consolidation of earlier legislation concerned with commercial food production. The five weeds covered by the 1959 Act are common ragwort, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock and broad-leaved dock. Common ragwort is poisonous to animals, in particular horses. The others, if allowed to spread, compete with and suppress grass and crop plants.
The five weeds covered by the 1959 Act are not “notifiable” as such and there is no obligation to report their presence to anyone. Complaints about the spread of any of the five weeds will only be investigated on receipt of a properly completed complaint form in accordance with the procedures set out on DEFRA's website.
The giant hogweed is listed in schedule 9 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is therefore an offence to introduce it to the wild without a licence.
[holding answer 12 June 2009]: No assessments have been made for either the native hogweed or the invasive non-native giant hogweed. While some invasive non-native species are known to affect soil chemistry to prejudice any competing plants, giant hogweed is not believed to have such properties.
[holding answer 12 June 2009]: As part of implementing the Invasive Non-native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain, we have been producing a suite of identification sheets on key invasive non-native species. These are published on the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat website at:
www.nonnativespecies.org
The sheet on giant hogweed clearly advises of the health hazard from contact with its sap. DEFRA also supported the development of the recent CIRIA (construction industry research and information association) guide ‘Invasive species management for infrastructure managers and the construction industry’ which advises of the hazard associated with giant hogweed. There are numerous other publications and sources of advice that identify this hazard.