Pathway Action Plans for Invasive Non-native Species

Overview

We are seeking your views on the draft Great Britain invasive non-native species (INNS) Pathway Action Plans (PAPs). 

An ‘invasive non-native species’ (INNS) is any non-native animal or plant that can spread causing damage to the environment, the economy, our health, or the way we live. Pathways are the routes and mechanisms that introduce and spread INNS. Pathway Action Plans (PAPs) are an important element of INNS prevention and risk management, and we are committed to their development in the GB Non-native Species Strategy and domestic legislation.  

Defra, the Scottish Government and Welsh Government have worked with the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat, government agencies and key delivery partners to draft five PAPs:

1. recreational boating;
2. angling;
3. horticulture; 
4. zoos and aquaria; and
5. pets

These PAPs lay out best-practice guidance to help reduce the risk associated with these pathways. They do this by setting out key actions for Government, Arm’s Length Bodies, businesses, NGOs, recreational clubs and individuals.  

Your responses will help us to consider revisions to the PAP documents to make them as comprehensive as possible.

Why your views matter

The development of the draft PAPs has already involved extensive engagement with external partners, including trade bodies and eNGOs. This provided key information on each priority pathway's risks, and how those risks may be mitigated. However, this consultation is the final stage in the PAPs development, and we want to receive further evidence on how these PAPs could be improved. Evidence provided by you is key to ensuring that these final documents are effective, and have public support and commitment to their implementation.  

Defra, the Scottish Government and Welsh Government will consider the responses to the consultation and revise the PAP documents where appropriate, with the overall aim of making the PAPs as comprehensive as possible. This consultation is therefore a final step in developing the PAPs prior to publication.

What happens next

Defra, the Scottish Government and Welsh Government will consider the responses to the consultation and revise the Pathway Action Plan (PAP) documents where appropriate, with the overall aim of making the PAPs as comprehensive as possible and publishing final versions by the end of 2025.

A summary of responses to this consultation will be published on the government website. An annex to the consultation summary will list all organisations that responded but will not include personal names, addresses or other contact details.