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 go on to become ‘invasive’, negatively impacting our wildlife, environment, economy and society.
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 entered into force on 2 August 2017.
There were further updates of the Union list in 2017, 2019, 2022 and again in 2025. The 2025 update added a further 26 species (8 plants and 18 animals) and was adopted on 17th July 2025 and entered into force on 7th August 2025. It is important to note that Regulation of 2 of the 26 additional species, Castor canadensis and Neogale vison, will not enter into force until 7th August 2027. The current list now contains 114 species, 49 plants and 65 animals.
In addition to the general FAQ which the Commission has published on its website(external link opens in a new window / tab), NI Government has also produced its own FAQ for NI stakeholders which can be found on the Invasive Species Northern Ireland website here - https://invasivespeciesni.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NIEA-Invasive-Alien-Species-Order-FAQs.pdf
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 came 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 114 ‘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 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 114 species and a link through to where you can find more information about each species on the Invasive Species Northern Ireland website.
Species of Union Concern
Animals
| Scientific name | Common name | Entry into force |
| Acridotheres cristatellus | Crested myna | 07 August 2025 |
| Acridotheres tristis | Common myna bird | 14 August 2019 |
| Alopochen aegyptiacus | Egyptian goose | 02 August 2017 |
| Ameiurus melas | Black bullhead catfish | 02 August 2022 |
| Arthurdendyus triangulatus | New Zealand flatworm | 14 August 2019 |
| Asterias amurensis | Northern Pacific seastar | 07 August 2025 |
| Axis axis | Chital/spotted deer | 02 August 2022 |
| Bipalium kewense | Shovel-headed garden worm | 07 August 2025 |
| Brachyponera chinensis | Asian needle ant | 07 August 2025 |
| Callosciurus erythraeus | Pallas's squirrel | 03 August 2016 |
| Callosciurus finlaysonii | Finlayson’s squirrel | 02 August 2022 |
| Castor canadensis | North American beaver | 07 August 2027 |
| Cervus nippon | Sika deer | 07 August 2025 |
| Channa argus | Northern Snakehead | 02 August 2022 |
| Cherax destructor | Common yabby | 07 August 2025 |
| Cipangopaludina chinensis | Chinese mystery snail | 07 August 2025 |
| Corvus splendens | Indian house crow | 03 August 2016 |
| Eriocheir sinensis | Chinese mitten crab | 03 August 2016 |
| Faxonius immunis | Calico crayfish | 07 August 2025 |
| Faxonius rusticus | Rusty crayfish | 02 August 2022 |
| Fundulus heteroclitus | Mummichog | 02 August 2024 |
| Gambusia affinis | Mosquitofish | 02 August 2022 |
| Gambusia holbrooki | Eastern Mosquitofish | 02 August 2022 |
| Herpestes javanicus | Small Asian mongoose / Javan mongoose | 03 August 2016 |
| Lampropeltis getula | Common kingsnake | 02 August 2022 |
| Lepomis gibbosus | Pumpkinseed | 14 August 2019 |
| Limnoperna fotunei | Golden mussel | 02 August 2022 |
| Lithobates (Rana) catesbeianus | North American bullfrog | 03 August 2016 |
| Marisa cornuarietis | Giant ramshorn snail | 07 August 2025 |
| Misgurnus anguillicaudatus | Oriental weatherloach | 07 August 2025 |
| Misgurnus bipartitus | Northern weatherfish | 07 August 2025 |
| Morone americana | White Perch | 02 August 2022 |
| Mulinia lateralis | Dwarf surf clam | 07 August 2025 |
| Muntiacus reevesii | Muntjac deer | 03 August 2016 |
| Myocastor coypus | Coypu | 03 August 2016 |
| Nasua | Coati | 03 August 2016 |
| Neogale vison | American mink | 07 August 2027 |
| Nyctereutes procyonoides | Raccoon dog | 02 February 2019 |
| Obama nungara | Obama flatworm | 07 August 2025 |
| 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 |
| Platydemus manokwari | New Guinea flatworm | 07 August 2025 |
| 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 |
| Pycnonotus cafer | Red-vented bulbul | 02 August 2022 |
| Pycnonotus jocosus | Red-whiskered bulbul | 07 August 2025 |
| Sciurus carolinensis | Grey squirrel | 03 August 2016 |
| Sciurus niger | Fox squirrel | 03 August 2016 |
| Solenopsis geminata | Tropical fire ant | 02 August 2022 |
| Solenopsis invicta | Red imported fire ant | 02 August 2022 |
| Solenopsis richteri | Black fire ant | 02 August 2022 |
| Tamias sibiricus | Siberian chipmunk | 03 August 2016 |
| Threskiornis aethiopicus | Sacred ibis | 03 August 2016 |
| Trachemys scripta spp. | Red-eared terrapin | 03 August 2016 |
| Vespa mandarinia | Northern giant hornet | 07 August 2025 |
| Vespa velutina nigrithorax | Asian hornet | 03 August 2016 |
| Wasmannia auropunctata | Electric ant | 02 August 2022 |
| Xenopus laevis | African clawed frog | 02 August 2024 |
Plants
| Scientific name | Common name | Entry into force |
| Acacia mearnsii | Black wattle | 07 August 2025 |
| 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 |
| Broussonetia papyrifera | Paper mulberry | 07 August 2025 |
| Cabomba caroliniana | Green cabomba | 03 August 2016 |
| Cardiospermum grandiflorum | Balloon vine | 14 August 2019 |
| Celastrus orbiculatus | Oriental bittersweet | 02 August 2027 |
| Cenchrus setaceus | Crimson fountaingrass | 02 August 2017 |
| Cortaderia jubata | Purple pampas grass | 14 August 2019 |
| Crassula helmsii | Swamp stonecrop | 07 August 2025 |
| Delairea odorata | Cape ivy | 07 August 2025 |
| Ehrharta calycina | Perennial veldtgrass | 14 August 2019 |
| Elodea nuttallii | Nuttall's waterweed | 02 August 2017 |
| Gunnera tinctoria | Chilean rhubarb | 02 August 2017 |
| Gymnocoronis spilanthoides | Senegal tea plant | 14 August 2019 |
| Hakea sericea | Silky hakea | 02 August 2022 |
| Heracleum mantegazzianum | Giant hogweed | 02 August 2017 |
| Heracleum persicum | Persian hogweed | 03 August 2016 |
| Heracleum sosnowskyi | Sosnowski's hogweed | 03 August 2016 |
| Humulus scandens | Japanese hop | 14 August 2019 |
| Hydrocotyle ranunculoides | Floating pennywort | 03 August 2016 |
| Impatiens glandulifera | Himalayan balsam | 02 August 2017 |
| Koenigia polystachya | Himalayan knotweed | 02 August 2022 |
| 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 |
| Nanozostera japonica | Japanese eelgrass | 07 August 2025 |
| Parthenium hysterophorus | Whitetop weed | 03 August 2016 |
| Persicaria perfoliata (Polygonum perfoliatum) | Asiatic tearthumb | 03 August 2016 |
| Pistia stratiotes | Water lettuce | 02 August 2024 |
| Pontederia crassipes | Water hyacinth | 03 August 2016 |
| Prosopis juliflora | Mesquite | 14 August 2019 |
| Pueraria montana var. lobata (Pueraria lobata) | Kudzu vine | 03 August 2016 |
| Reynoutria japonica | Japanese knotweed | 07 August 2025 |
| Reynoutria sachalinensis | Giant knotweed | 07 August 2025 |
| Reynoutria × bohemica | Bohemian knotweed | 07 August 2025 |
| Rugulopteryx okamurae | A brown seaweed | 02 August 2022 |
| Salvinia molesta (Salvinia adnata) | Salvinia moss | 14 August 2019 |
| Triadica sebifera (Sapium sebiferum) | Chinese tallow | 14 August 2019 |