A sales ban on some aquatic pond plants comes into full force in April which will stop the trade in five invasive species.
The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association has suggested the industry does not sell these particular plants for several years but DEFRA introduced the ban last year, giving traders until April 2014 to clear any stock.
The five plants banned from sale by DEFRA 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)
The ban means all retailers in England must stop selling these plants or face a fine of up to £5,000 and/or up to six months in prison. Retailers have had a year to adjust to the ban.
"We’ve been saying for some time that retailers should not be selling these plants and any shops that have continued to do so have had a year to clear their shelves," said Keith Davenport, OATA’s chief executive.
"So there should be no excuse for these five plants to be sold after April.
"These plants have been identified by DEFRA as posing a significant risk when they escape into the our native waterways so we’d also urge retailers and pond consultants to make sure they give proper advice to their customers on how to manage and dispose of these plants when they’re already in ponds.
"There’s plenty of useful information about careful composting aquatic plants in Be Plant Wise leaflets and point of sale information."
More advice on pond use and management from the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association.
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