EU Invasive alien species

Non-native species are those that have been introduced, either intentionally or unintentionally, outside their natural range. Many of these non-native species live in harmony with our native species causing no adverse impacts. However a few non-native species have become known as ‘invasive’ as they thrive in our habitats and out-compete our native flora and fauna.

EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species

In November 2014 the European Union published a new Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species.

The EU Regulation came into force on 1 January 2015 and addresses the problem of certain European wide invasive alien species in a comprehensive manner. It aims to establish a more consistent approach to tackling those invasive alien species.

A core provision of the EU Regulation is a list of invasive alien species of Union concern (‘the Union list’), which are species whose potential adverse impacts across the European Union are such that concerted action across Europe is required.

The first Union list of 37 species (14 plants and 23 animals) was adopted on 4 December 2015 and came into force on 3 August 2016.

The first update of the Union list which added a further 12 species (9 plants and 3 animals) was adopted on 12 July 2017 and enters into force on 2  August 2017.

The second update of the Union list which added a further 17 species (13 plants and 4 animals) was adopted on 25 July 2019 and entered into force on 15 August 2019.

In addition to the general FAQ which the Commission has published on its website, the UK has also produced its own FAQ for UK stakeholders which can be found on the GB Non Native Species Secretariat website.

The Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019

In line with Defra, and the other devolved administrations, the Department has introduced new domestic legislation to fulfil its obligations under the EU Regulation

The Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019 makes provision for criminal offences relating to breaches of requirements of the EU Regulation.

Part 2 of the 2019 Order contains criminal offences, which include breach of the main restrictions in the EU Regulation, as well as ancillary offences; - for example relating to false statements, attempts to commit offences and obstruction. It also contains provisions relating to offences by bodies corporate, partnerships and unincorporated associations. Parts 3 and 4 contain defences to those offences and penalties respectively. Penalties are set to be consistent with similar penalties contained in existing legislation relating to non-native species. Part 5 sets out enforcement powers available to the Department and authorised persons who will enforce the Order. Part 6 provides for the issue of permits in accordance with Articles 8 and 9 of the EU Regulation. Part 7 contains licensing provisions which may be issued for a number of different activities, provided specific conditions are met. Permits and licenses will be issued by the Department. Part 8 contains provisions ensuring the Order works alongside related legislation and avoids duplication of controls between similar regimes were possible.

Any companion animal of a listed species that was kept before it was included on the EU list may continue to be kept in secure accommodation, as long as it is not able to breed until the end of its natural life.

The Order comes into operation on 1st December 2019.

Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 Of the European Parliament and of The Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species

 

The European Commission has to date listed 66 ‘Species of Union Concern’ to which the EU Invasive Alien Species Regulation 1143/2014 applies.

All of these species have been accepted as meeting agreed criteria concerning their invasiveness and ability to establish in several Member States.

Listing imposes restrictions on the commercial keeping, sale, and transporting of the listed plants and animals, and their intentional breeding or release.

The aim of this new regime is to prevent or manage the introduction, or spread, of invasive non-native species across the European Union.

In order to achieve this aim the EU Regulation requires Member States to put in place surveillance and Rapid Response mechanisms and to develop management measures for Widely Spread Species (WSS).

A permit scheme will be in operation to allow derogations from some of these restrictions (other than their release) but only in very limited circumstances such as scientific research specifically tailored towards improvement of eradication methods.

Northern Ireland brought into force its own corresponding legislation on the 1st December 2019 - The Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019

DAERA are the ‘competent authority ‘for enforcing this Regulation.

The Northern Ireland Explanatory Memorandum to the above legislation is provided for further guidance

Listed below are those 66 species and a link through to where you can find more information about each species on the Invasive Species Ireland website.


         Species of Union Concern

Animals

 

Scientific name

Common name

Entry into force

Acridotheres tristis

Common myna bird

14 August 2019

Alopochen aegyptiacus 

Egyptian goose

02 August 2017

Arthurdendyus triangulatus

New Zealand flatworm

14 August 2019

Callosciurus erythraeus

Pallas's squirrel

03 August 2016

Corvus splendens

Indian house crow

03 August 2016

Eriocheir sinensis

Chinese mitten crab

03 August 2016

Herpestes javanicus

Small Asian mongoose / Javan mongoose

03 August 2016

Lepomis gibbosus

Pumpkinseed

14 August 2019

Lithobates (Rana) catesbeianus

North American bullfrog

03 August 2016

Muntiacus reevesii

Muntjac deer

03 August 2016

Myocastor coypus

Coypu

03 August 2016

Nasua

Coati

03 August 2016

Nyctereutes procyonoides

Raccoon dog

02 February 2019

Ondatra zibethicus

Muskrat

02 August 2017

Orconectes limosus (Faxonius limosus)

Spiny-cheek crayfish

03 August 2016

Orconectes virilis (Faxonius virilis)

Virile crayfish

03 August 2016

Oxyura jamaicensis

Ruddy duck

03 August 2016

Pacifastacus leniusculus

Signal crayfish

03 August 2016

Percottus glenii

Chinese sleeper / Amur sleeper

03 August 2016

Plotosus lineatus

Striped eel catfish

14 August 2019

Procambarus clarkia 

Red swamp crayfish

03 August 2016

Procambarus fallax f. virginalis (Procambarus virginalis)

Marbled crayfish

03 August 2016

Procyon lotor

Raccoon

03 August 2016

Pseudorasbora parva

Stone moroko

03 August 2016

Sciurus carolinensis

Grey squirrel

03 August 2016

Sciurus niger

Fox squirrel

03 August 2016

Tamias sibiricus

Siberian chipmunk

03 August 2016

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Sacred ibis

03 August 2016

Trachemys scripta spp.

Red-eared terrapin

03 August 2016

Vespa velutina nigrithorax

Asian hornet

03 August 2016

Plants

Scientific name

Common name

Entry into force

Acacia saligna (Acacia cyanophylla) 

Golden wreath wattle

14 August 2019

Ailanthus altissima

Tree of heaven

14 August 2019

Alternanthera philoxeroides

Alligator weed

02 August 2017

Andropogon virginicus

Broomsedge bluestem

14 August 2019

Asclepias syriaca

Milkweed

02 August 2017

Baccharis halimifolia

Eastern Baccharis

03 August 2016

Cabomba caroliniana

Green cabomba

03 August 2016

Cardiospermum grandiflorum

Balloon vine

14 August 2019

Cortaderia jubata

Purple pampas grass

14 August 2019

Ehrharta calycina

Perennial veldtgrass

14 August 2019

Eichhornia crassipes

Water hyacinth

03 August 2016

Elodea nuttallii

Nuttall's waterweed

02 August 2017

Gunnera tinctoria

Chilean rhubarb

02 August 2017

Gymnocoronis spilanthoides

Senegal tea plant

14 August 2019

Heracleum persicum

Persian hogweed

03 August 2016

Heracleum sosnowskyi

Sosnowski's hogweed

03 August 2016

Heracleum mantegazzianum  

Giant hogweed

02 August 2017

Humulus scandens

Japanese hop

14 August 2019

Hydrocotyle ranunculoides

Floating pennywort

03 August 2016

Impatiens glandulifera

Himalayan balsam

02 August 2017

Lagarosiphon major

Curly waterweed

03 August 2016

Lespedeza cuneata (Lespedeza juncea var. sericea)

Chinese bushclover

14 August 2019

Ludwigia grandiflora 

Water primrose

03 August 2016

Ludwigia peploides

Floating primrose willow

03 August 2016

Lygodium japonicum

Vine-like fern

14 August 2019

Lysichiton americanus

American skunk cabbage

03 August 2016

Microstegium vimineum

Japanese stiltgrass

02 August 2017

Myriophyllum aquaticum

Parrot's feather

03 August 2016

Myriophyllum heterophyllum

Broadleaf watermilfoil

02 August 2017

Parthenium hysterophorus

Whitetop weed

03 August 2016

Pennisetum setaceum

Crimson fountaingrass

02 August 2017

Persicaria perfoliata (Polygonum perfoliatum)

Asiatic tearthumb

03 August 2016

Prosopis juliflora

Mesquite

14 August 2019

Pueraria montana var. lobata (Pueraria lobata)

Kudzu vine

03 August 2016

Salvinia molesta (Salvinia adnata)

Salvinia moss

14 August 2019

Triadica sebifera (Sapium sebiferum)

Chinese tallow

14 August 2019

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