The European Council today (29th Sept, 2014) adopted a regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. The Regulation, that is a binding legal tool, will enter into force from 1 January 2015.
[Excerpts from the Official Press Release]
The regulation lays down rules to prevent, minimise and mitigate the adverse impacts of the introduction and spread, both intentional and unintentional, of invasive alien species on biodiversity and the related ecosystem services, as well as other adverse impact on human health or the economy.
To this end, the Commission will adopt an open list of invasive alien species of Union concern, which will be regularly updated and reviewed at least every six years. Species on this list may not be intentionally brought into the territory of the EU, nor may they be kept, bred, transported to, from or within the Union, placed on the market, grown or released into the environment.
The new regulation also addresses invasive alien species of regional concern and of member state concern. It allows member states to identify, from their national list of invasive alien species of member state concern, species native or non-native to the Union that require enhanced regional cooperation. Such regional cooperation will be facilitated by the Commission.
The regulation also establishes a surveillance system for early detection and measures for rapid eradication. Furthermore, member states must provide for penalties if the regulation is not correctly applied.
Read the full press release here: www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/envir/144948.pdf
Download the Regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species.