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• Control of weeds (GAEC 11)

Guide to Cross Compliance in England

GAECs

• GAEC 1
• GAEC 2
• GAEC 3
• GAEC 4
• GAEC 5
• GAEC 6
• GAEC 7
• GAEC 8
• GAEC 9
• GAEC 10
• GAEC 11
• GAEC 12
• GAEC 13
• GAEC 14
• GAEC 15
• GAEC 16
• GAEC 17
• GAEC 18
• GAEC 19

Control of weeds (GAEC 11)

The aim of these rules is to control the spread of specified invasive non-native weeds and injurious weeds that can damage habitats, agricultural land and in some cases can pose a risk to the welfare of horses and other grazing animals and to people.

A. You must

1. take all reasonable steps to prevent the spread of specified invasive non-native weeds¹ and injurious weeds² on your land and onto adjoining land.

B. You must not

1. unreasonably fail to comply with a notice³ served on you.

The taking all reasonable steps rules of this GAEC standard (GAEC 11) do not apply if a derogation has been granted. Information on under what circumstances RPA can grant derogations can be found in the introduction to this guide. You must apply to RPA in writing for this derogation and wait for written permission before carrying out any work.

Further advice and guidance Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort (PB9840). Identification of Injurious Weeds (PB4192). Guidance note on the methods that can be used to control harmful weeds (PB7190). Guidance on the disposal options for common ragwort (PB11050). These publications are available on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk Guidance for Cross Compliance in England: Management of Habitats and Landscape Features (rpa176) is available on our website at rpa.defra.gov.uk/crosscompliance/farmerguidance Information and guidance on invasive non-native weeds is available on the GB Non-native species secretariat website at www.nonnativespecies.org and the Environment Agency at www.environment-agency.gov.uk Weeds Helpline: 0300 060 1112 or e-mail iss.reading@naturalengland.org.uk Environment Agency: 03708 506 506

Footnotes

¹ ‘Specified invasive non-native weeds’: rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) and Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera).
² ‘Injurious weeds’: common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), creeping or field thistle (Cirsium arvense), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) and curled dock (Rumex crispus).
³ Under the Weeds Act 1959.

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Page published: 5 January 2012