Ragwort Control Act 2003


The Ragwort Control Act 2003 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It provides for the publication of a Code of Practice on Ragwort Control, as common ragwort is considered a harmful weed that can endanger animals which browse it.

Section 1 - Control of ragwort

This section inserts section 1A of the Weeds Act 1959 which enables the Minister applies only to England and is set out with additional Guidance on Disposal which was issued on 15 March 2011 followed by an addendum of 18 April 2012.

Section 2 - Wales

Section 2 provides that the reference to the Weeds Act 1959 in Schedule 1 to the National Assembly for Wales Order 1999 is to be treated as referring to that Act as amended by the Ragwort Control Act 2003. Section 2 provides that this does not affect the power to make further Orders varying or omitting that reference.

Section 3 - Short title, commencement and extent

Section 3 provides that the Act came into force at the end of the period of three months that began on the date on which it was passed. The word "months" means calendar months. The day on which the Act was passed is included in the period of three months. This means that the Act came into force on 20 February 2004.

Controversy

questioned the effectiveness of this Act in 2006.