Tuesday, February 24, 2015

European Union Regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species

Regulation No 1143/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 22 October 2014 went in force January 1, 2015.  

Invasive Alien Species are animals and plants that are introduced accidentally or deliberately into a natural environment where they are not normally found, with serious negative consequences for their new environment. They represent a major threat to native plants and animals in Europe, causing damage worth millions of euros every year.

The new European Union Regulation on invasive alien species was published in the Official Journal on 4 November 2014. It went into force on 1 January 2015. The new regulation seeks to address the problem of invasive alien species in a comprehensive manner so as to protect native biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well as to minimize and mitigate the human health or economic impacts that these species can have.

The regulation foresees three types of interventions; prevention, early warning and rapid response, and management. A list of invasive alien species of Union concern will be drawn up and managed with Member States using risk assessments and scientific evidence.


For background information and The EU Commission Communication click Towards an EU Strategy on Invasive Species