EU Invasive alien species

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.

• Consolidated List of invasive alien species of Union concern

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 1^st 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 1^st 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

Plants