EU Directives and Regulations

 Agreement

EU regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species, 2014

Special section(s) relevant to alien species

The entire regulation

Content and coverage of regulation

The new EU 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 main elements in the regulation are:

• According to the Regulation the Member States will be obligated, based on a scientifically based risk analysis, to prepare and update a list of invasive alien species, which are problematic on a European level, and which then will be regulated through the regulation.
• Species that are on the list will be subject to a ban on sales, transport, production, etc.
• Member States will be obligated to manage, control and eradicated invasive alien species coved by the regulation and also to  take appropriate restoration measures to assist the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed by invasive alien species of Union concern. Unless a cost-benefit analysis demonstrates, on the basis of the available data and with reasonable certainty, that the costs of those measures will be high and disproportionate to the benefits of restoration.

Find out more:

• http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm

Agreement

Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (Birds Directive) (as ammended) In force: 1979

Special section(s) relevant to alien species

Article 11 of the directive affirms that member states shall se that any introduction of species of birds which do not occur naturally in the wild state in the european territory of the member states does not prejudice the local flora and fauna.

Content and coverage of regulation

The Directive 79/409/EEC provides a framework for the conservation and management of wild birds in Europe. It sets a broad objective regarding non-native birds, but leaves to the discretion of each Member State how compliance with these objectives is achieved.

Agreement

Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitat Directive)  Adopted: 1992; In force: 1992

Special section(s) relevant to alien species

Article 22, b of the Habitat Directive establishes that Member States shall ensure that the deliberate introduction into the wild of any species which is not native to their territory is regulated so as not to prejudice natural habitats within their natural range or the wild native fauna and flora and, if they consider it necessary, prohibit such introduction.

Content and coverage of regulation

The Habitat Directive aims to promote the maintenance of biodiversity in the Member States by defining a common framework for the conservation of wild flora and fauna and habitats of Community interest. The Directive establishes a European ecological network known as "Natura 2000". The Habitat Directive is a part implementation of the CBD Convention at European level.

Agreement

Council Regulation No 88/98/EEC of 18 December 1997 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the waters of the Baltic Sea, the Belts and the Sound  Adopted: 1997; In force: 1998

Special section(s) relevant to alien species

Article 10, 4 states that: It shall be prohibited to release exotic species into the Baltic Sea, the Belts and the Sound or to fish for exotic species and sturgeon, unless authorised by the rules adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 13 and with the obligations arising from the Gdansk Convention. Exotic species are defined as those which do not occur naturally in the Baltic Sea, the Belts and the Sound.

Content and coverage of regulation

This regulation is very specific, in geographical scope as well as in organisms. In can only be used to prevent the intentional introduction of aliens species.

Agreement

Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein  Adopted 1996; In force: 1997 ; Amended: 2003

Special section(s) relevant to alien species

In Article IV, 6d of Council regulation 338/97 it is stated that the Commission may establish restrictions relating to certain countries of origin, on the introduction into the Community of live specimens of species for which it has been established that their introduction into the natural environment of the Community presents an ecological threat to wild species of fauna and flora indigenous to the Community.

The appendices included in regulation 1497/2003 mention several invasive species: Oxyura jamaicensis, Trachemys scripta, Rana catesbeiana. The appendices are regularly updated.

Content and coverage of regulation

The CITES convention has been implemented in Europe by Commission Regulation (EC) No 338/97. This Regulation was amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1497/2003 of 18 August 2003 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein.

In the annexes to the new directive a few invasive alien species that have become threats in importing EU-countries have been included. The alien species regulated through CITES are only the intentional introductions since it is based on an approval system.

Agreement

Alien species in the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Special section(s) relevant to alien species

Eleven generic qualitative descriptors are to be considered when determining the environmental status of waters. Alien species are specifically addressed in Annex I. Descriptor 2. Non-indigenous species introduced by human activities are at levels that do not adversely alter the environment. Criteria and indicators for determining if this qualitative descriptor is achieved are currently being developed. The proposed criteria that are under consideration are:

• Prevention of new NIS introductions. Indicators for this are accounts of vectors associated with new introductions and changes in pathways and vectors
• Prevention of establishment and spread of NIS. Indicators are Inventories of newly arrived NIS and areas of their origin, trends in introduction of invasive alien species and accounts of newly colonised localities
• Change in Species composition. The indicator is the ratio between non-indigenous species and native species
• Prevention of spread of invasive alien species. Indicators are a target list on potentially harmful species and the abundance and distribution range of IAS.
• The absence of minimal level of IAS impact which disturb environmental quality. The indicator is the Biopollution index in which abundance, distribution range and impacts on native communities, habitats and ecosystem functioning are assessed.

Annex III The initial assessment for alien species should be done by 2012 and include:

• An analysis of the current environmental status of waters which include an inventory of the temporal occurrence, abundance and spatial distribution of non-indigenous, exotic species or where, relevant, genetically distinct form of native species, which are present in the region/sub-region
• An analysis of the predominant pressures and impacts for introduction of non-indigenous species and translocations

Content and coverage of regulation

The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive establishes a framework for the protection and preservation of the marine environment, the prevention of its deterioration and the restoration of that environment where it has been adversely affected. Marine strategies are be developed and implemented with the aim of achieving or maintaining good environmental status in the marine environment by the year 2021 at the latest.

Agreement

Council Regulation (EC) no 708/2007 concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture

Special section(s) relevant to alien species

The entire regulation

Content and coverage of regulation

This regulation aims to optimise benefits associated with introductions and translocations of alien and locally absent species used in aquaculture while at the same time avoiding alterations in ecosystems and preventing negative biological interaction including genetic change with indigenous populations and restricting the spread of non-target species and detrimental impacts on natural habitats. The main focus is on risk assessments of alien species before allowing introduction or translocation. Fifteen alien species are exempted from the regulations.