The State Duma adopted in the first reading a draft on combating the spread of hogweed

The State Duma approved in the first reading bill on ensuring the protection of lands from the growth of invasive plants, including Sosnovsky’s hogweed. It is assumed that the responsibilities for protecting land will be assigned to owners, landowners, land users and tenants of plots. The government will determine the list of invasive plants, as well as measures to combat them.

Amendments are proposed to be made to Art. 13 of the Land Code of Russia. The explanatory note states that Sosnovsky’s hogweed is dangerous not only for natural ecosystems, but also for people. Essential oils contained in hogweed, if they come into contact with the skin, lead to acute dermatitis that occurs like burns. In addition, the plant has increased reproductive capacity and can produce up to 20 thousand seeds. “Therefore, the widespread fight against Sosnovsky’s hogweed is also necessary to ensure a comfortable life for people,” the authors of the project emphasized.

A group of deputies from United Russia introduced a bill on the obligations of landowners to combat hogweed to the State Duma in October 2023. Last June, the authors of the initiative said that the fine for such a violation should be up to 50 thousand rubles. for individuals and up to 700 thousand rubles. – for legal entities. Currently, the practice of imposing fines for non-extermination of hogweed in areas is within the competence of regional authorities.

Read more about the problem of invasive plants in the Kommersant FM article. “Cow parsnip has grown to a federal scale”.

Milena Kostereva