Ordinance on the Handling of Invasive Alien Organisms (GOV) - Purpose (GOV)

1. This regulation aims to protect humans, animals, and the environment, as well as biological diversity and its utilization, from the harmful impacts of the spread of invasive alien organisms.

1. The Office of Agriculture is responsible for

a) the ordering and implementation of measures to combat invasive alien organisms and to prevent their occurrence;

b) the monitoring of locations with invasive alien organisms;

c) the inspection of the mandated control measures;

d) the training and advising of authorities and individuals responsible for control measures.

2. The Office for the Environment is responsible for

a) informing the public about the handling of invasive alien organisms;

b) recording locations infested with invasive alien organisms in a public register, as well as documenting the mandated control measures;

c) informing the relevant federal authorities about the occurrence and control of invasive alien organisms;

d) issuing orders concerning the handling of excavated soil contaminated with invasive alien organisms.

3. For enforcement, the responsible authorities may involve third parties. These third parties may be assigned tasks related to combating, monitoring, and surveillance.

1. The Agricultural Office and the Environmental Office coordinate their activities with each other.

2. They cooperate with other relevant cantonal and municipal authorities, as well as the surrounding cantons.

1. Owners, possessors, and managers of properties are obligated to report invasive alien organisms on their property to the competent authorities.

1. Owners, possessors, and managers of properties are required, subject to Article 6, to properly combat invasive alien organisms and to prevent their further spread.

2. The Office of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Office for the Environment, issues generally binding guidelines regarding the methods of combating these organisms and the disposal of the resulting waste.

1. The Agriculture Office combats invasive alien organisms insofar as the control is in the special public interest, namely

a) in particularly sensitive or worthy of protection habitats;

b) when there is an immediate threat to particularly sensitive or worthy of protection habitats.

2. Owners, possessors, and managers of properties are obligated to prevent the resurgence of invasive alien organisms at locations according to paragraph 1.

1. Owners, holders, and managers of land are generally required to tolerate investigations and control measures by the canton on their property, usually following consultation.

1. This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 September 2010.