Notification by the Government of areas affected by insect pests, plant diseases or noxious weeds

(1) If the Government consider that any pest, disease or weed in any local area is dangerous to health or is injurious to crops, plants, trees or water-supply or is obstructive to water-ways and that it is necessary to take measures to eradicate it or to prevent its introduction or re-appearance, they may, by notification in the Gazette,- (a) declare that such pest, disease or weed is an insect pest, a plant disease or a noxious weed; (b) prohibit or restrict the removal of any plant from one place to another or prescribe such other preventive or remedial measures as may be necessary in respect of such pest, disease or weed, and (c) define the local area within which and the period during which such notification shall be in force. (2) Where the preventive or remedial measures prescribed in subsection (1) include the removal or destruction of any plant in order to eradicate or prevent the introduction or re-appearance of any insect pest, such notification shall, prior to the date on which the notification shall come into force, be proclaimed in the local area defined in the notification in such manner as may be prescribed;