The Federation Council approved the "against giant hogweed" law.

      Let us recall that in mid-July, State Duma deputies approved in the third reading amendments to the Land Code of the Russian Federation and specific legislative acts concerning the protection of lands from invasive plants. According to the State Duma website, the law will oblige landholders of any plots to combat weeds such as giant hogweed, which cause environmental damage. The amendments to the Land Code introduced the concept of "dangerous species of invasive (foreign) plants," which, as explained by the law's authors, include "viable plants of any species, varieties, or biological types that inhabit outside their natural range, and whose spread and abundance pose a threat to the environment, human life or health, the preservation of natural ecological systems, biological diversity, and cause harm to certain sectors of the economy," reports Parliament newspaper.

      Parliamentarians clarified that the most well-known and dangerous invasive plant species are hogweed and ragweed. To prevent the spread of harmful weeds on land, owners are required to undertake measures to protect their lands from these dangerous plant species.

      The law will come into force on March 1, 2026.