1 New EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species European Commission DG Environment Invasive Species Council of British Columbia Richmond, 16 January 2015
2 Invasive Alien Species in Europe 12,000 alien species in the European environment 10-15 % are invasive Cost at least 12 billion per year to the European economy Expanding problem
3 IAS Regulation Guiding principles Prioritisation ü proportionality Focus on prevention ü internationally recognised approach Use existing instruments and increase coordination ü recognise MS measures balancing coordination and flexibility
Ch I General provisions 4 Regulation on Invasive Alien Species Chapter 1: General provisions Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Prevention Early Detection and Rapid Eradication Management of established IAS Chapter 5: Horizontal provisions Chapter 6: Final provisions
Ch I General provisions 5 Scope of the Regulation Exclusion from the scope GMOs Animal diseases Harmful organisms to plants Regulation in place Covered by GMO legislation Covered by animal health legislation Covered by plant health legislation Animal diseases Harmful organisms to plants
Ch I General provisions 6 Scope of the Regulation Exclusion from the scope Species entering the EU as they adapt to climate change Species in Annex IV of Regulation on alien species in aquaculture Micro-organisms approved as Plant Protection Product Micro-organisms authorised as Biocide Not considered IAS Natural process of adaptation, do not cross ecological boundaries Approved by regulation on alien species in aquaculture Approved by regulation on plant protection products Approved by biocide regulation Approved by Regulation on alien species in aquaculture
Ch I General provisions 7 List of IAS of Union concern IAS IAS of Member State concern IAS of Regional concern IAS of Union concern Worst species Based on criteria Dynamic list Voting in Committee with Member States Consultation of Scientific Forum By 2 January 2016 Draft implementing act including the first list of IAS of Union concern
Ch I General provisions 8 Criteria for IAS of Union concern a) Alien to the territory b) Capable of establishing and spreading c) Likely to have significant adverse impacts on biodiversity, and possibly also on human health and the economy d) Demonstrated by risk assessment that action at Union level is required e) Likely that inclusion in list will prevent, minimise or mitigate the adverse impacts IAS listed may be present or absent from EU
Ch I General provisions 9 Risk assessments Elements Rationale Species description Reproduction and spread Pathways of introduction and spread Risk of introduction and spread Current and future distribution Adverse impacts Potential damage costs Known uses and benefits Rigorous assessment Harmonised Build upon existing risk assessment protocols Supporting study http:// ec.europa.eu/environment/ nature/invasivealien/docs/ Final %20report_12092014.pdf Expert workshop
Ch I General provisions 10 Risk assessments Known uses and benefits
Ch II Prevention 11 Regulation on Invasive Alien Species Chapter 1: General provisions Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Prevention Early Detection and Rapid Eradication Management of established IAS Chapter 5: Horizontal provisions Chapter 6: Final provisions
Ch II Prevention 12 Intentional introductions
Ch II Prevention 13 Bans on IAS of Union concern IAS of EU concern shall not be intentionally: Brought into or transited through the Union Kept or bred, including in contained holding Transported, except in context of eradication Placed on the market Used or exchanged Permitted to reproduce Released into the environment Rationale EU-wide action Derogations for research, exsitu conservation and medicinal use MS permits Derogations for other activities in exceptional cases, after Commission autorisation and MS permit
Ch II Prevention 14 Unintentional introductions
Ch II Prevention 15 Pathways of IAS of Union concern Measures Within 18 months after adoption of list MS analyse pathways and identify priority pathways Within 3 years after adoption of list National action plan for priority pathways Rationale Flexibility allowing know-how build up
Ch II Prevention 16 Action beyond IAS of Union concern Emergency measures: Preliminary evidence species likely to meet criteria Within 2 yrs full risk assessment needed Possible extension EU level IAS of regional concern: Regional cooperation, facilitated by the Commission Incl. IAS native within the EU IAS of Member State concern: Measures at MS level Compatible with Treaty and notified to Commission Rationale Possibility to act quickly on potentially very damaging IAS Ante-chamber of EU list MS prerogative to identify IAS problematic for their region or territory Fully WTO and SPS compliant + in line with other EU laws
Ch II Prevention 17 Action beyond IAS of Union concern IAS native to a part of the EU IAS beneficial in a part of the EU
Ch III Early Detection and Rapid Eradication 18 Regulation on Invasive Alien Species Chapter 1: General provisions Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Prevention Early Detection and Rapid Eradication Management of established IAS Chapter 5: Horizontal provisions Chapter 6: Final provisions
Ch III Early Detection and Rapid Eradication 19 Rapid eradication early invasion stage
Ch III Early Detection and Rapid Eradication 20 Surveillance and border controls
Ch III Early Detection and Rapid Eradication 21 Surveillance Compatibility with other EU legislation - surveillance Birds and Habitats Directives Water Framework Directive Marine Strategy Framework Directive Build upon, be compatible with and avoid duplication of relevant provisions for assessment and monitoring Compatibility with other EU legislation border control Official control Regulation (plant and animal health regimes) Where Union law on official controls already provides for official controls at border entities, MS shall confer responsibility to the competent authorities already tasked with those controls
Ch III Early Detection and Rapid Eradication 22 Surveillance and border controls Measures Surveillance Within 18 months after adoption of list MS to set up surveillance systems detect IAS of Union concern in their territory, including marine territorial waters Border control By 2 January 2016 MS to put in place border control structures prevent intentional introductions of IAS of Union concern Rationale Maximising the use of existing surveillance Citizens' science Maximising the use of existing controls
Ch III Early Detection and Rapid Eradication 23 Early detection and rapid eradication Measures Early detection MS to immediately notify Commission and other MS of new detection of IAS of Union concern Rapid eradication Within 3 months after notification MS to proceed with rapid eradication Due regard to human health, environment and animal welfare Rationale Notifications are key for rapid eradication Rapid eradication = best chance to avoid escalation of problem Limited derogations under specific conditions
Ch IV Management of widely spread IAS 24 Regulation on Invasive Alien Species Chapter 1: General provisions Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Prevention Early Detection and Rapid Eradication Management of established IAS Chapter 5: Horizontal provisions Chapter 6: Final provisions
Ch IV Management of widely spread IAS 25 Management measures and restoration Measures Within 18 months after inclusion in list Obligation for MS to manage IAS of Union concern widely spread in their territory Management = eradication, control or containment Due regard to human health, environment and animal welfare Proportionate restoration measures for ecosystems damaged by IAS Rationale Widely spread IAS of Union concern Management to mitigate the damage and avoid further spread Flexible and proportionate approach
26 Regulation on Invasive Alien Species Chapter 1: General provisions Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Prevention Early Detection and Rapid Eradication Management of established IAS Chapter 5: Horizontal provisions Chapter 6: Final provisions
Ch V Horizontal provisions 27 Horizontal provisions Cost-recovery Cooperation and coordination More stringent national rules
Ch VI Final provisions 28 Reporting and review Information support system Public participation Committee and Scientific forum Exercise of delegation Penalties Transitional provisions Entry into force Final provisions
Ch VI Final provisions http://easin.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ 29 Information Support System
30 Thank you for your attention! myriam.dumortier@ec.europa.eu spyridon.flevaris@ec.europa.eu http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm