Concern over ragwort bill (From Gazette & Herald)

Concern over ragwort bill

LEGISLATION to curb the dangers of ragwort have been welcomed by the British Horse Society (BHS). But it has concerns over a section that deals with the distance from ragwort to any grazing animals.

In a press release, the society said: "The code then goes on to suggest that particular local circumstances should be taken into account when using the guidelines; however, the BHS still considers the parameters to be too narrow. The society is asking any horse owner who has had problems with ragwort growing outside of the suggested parameters, to provide evidence of that problem to DEFRA.

In December, Ryedale MP John Greenway won the ePolitix Charity Champion Award for Animal Welfare for steering the Ragwort Control Bill through Parliament.

Common ragwort is one of five weeds named in the Weeds Act 1959 and is the only one of those five poisonous to equines and other grazing animals. Animals can suffer excruciating death after eating it and the weed can cause long-term liver damage.

Copies of the code can be downloaded from the DEFRA website, www.defra.gov.uk.

Comments on the draft code of practice should be submitted by June 9 to Mrs Judith Marsden, DEFRA, Farm Focus Division, Area 2C, Ergon House, Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AL or by e-mail to: judith.marsden @defra.gsi.gov.uk.

Updated: 10:57 Wednesday, May 05, 2004