Valid from September 1: Federal Council bans the sale of cherry laurel

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The Federal Council amended the release regulation on Friday. With the ban on selling certain exotic plants to third parties, he wants to comply with a demand from the House of Representatives. The bans are intended to prevent invasive and non-native plants from spreading into the environment and causing damage.

Certain plants, including the cherry laurel, the butterfly bush and the bell tree, may no longer be sold, given away or imported from September 1. Plants already in gardens are not included in the ban.

The Federal Council has also extended the so-called contact ban. A number of invasive alien plants may in principle no longer be used, i.e. they may not be marketed, planted or propagated. This ban includes the tree of heaven, ragweed and giant hogweed.

Customs may carry out inspections

Import controls by customs are now also possible. In addition to customs, the cantons are responsible for enforcing the bans. With this decision, the Federal Council wants to give garden centers and sales points six months to adjust their range.

Of the approximately 1,300 alien animal, plant and fungal species currently found in Switzerland, approximately 200 are invasive, as the Federal Council writes in the report on the adjustment of regulations. Nearly ninety invasive species are plants. It can be assumed that the number of invasive alien plants will continue to rise.

(SDA)

Source:Blick