Call for post-Brexit trade deals to safeguard against invasive species

Conservation charities estimate cost of dealing with predators at 2bn a year, and warns this may spiral without strong prevention measures

Invasive species such as Japanese knotweed, signal crayfish and New Zealand flatworms must be subject to stronger safeguards after Brexit, a group of conservation charities has urged, or the cost of dealing with them may spiral.

They fear that future increased international trade outside EU rules could threaten further invasions, while the status of safeguards under potential trade deals could be put in doubt.