National Environmental (Control of Alien and Invasive Species) Regulations, 2013 (S I No. 32 of 2013).

These Regulations are made by the Minister of Environment pursuant to the provisions of section 34 of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (Establishment) Act, 2007. These Regulations seek to prevent the decline, minimize the modification and destruction of ecosystem, economy and human health caused by alien and invasive species. The provisions state that the purpose is to be achieved by regulating the raising, storing, carrying, importing, or any handling of the species; making contributions to conservation of biodiversity, human safety and development of agriculture, forestry and fisheries; developing a national database for the proactive management of fauna and flora of the species for the mitigation of existing invasions and prevention of future occurrences; integrating regional and global initiatives on transboundary movement of species within the overall national framework; and building capacity and skills for the species management. The Regulations make a detailed list of certain specimens and restricts and prohibits activities involving them, respectively. There is a responsibility on the occupier of land in which an invasive plant occurs to control the spread of the species by appropriate environmentally-sound methods. The Regulations further provide that a person shall obtain a permit prior to carrying out a restricted or prohibited activity involving the species, failure of which involves stiff fines and an imprisonment term of up to 5 years.