04/09/2014

SAFEMED III Project

Insight into the EU legislative framework
Invasive Alien Species Regulation

SAFEMED III Seminar on

Seminar on Ballast Water Convention

03 and 04 September 2014

EMSA, Lisbon

Anastasiya Kozubovskaya-Pell
Project Officer for SAFEMED III

Invasive Alien Species (IAS)

Alien Species: are plants, animals, pathogens and other
organisms that are non-native to an ecosystem.
Invasive alien species: alien species which may cause
economic or environmental harm or adversely affect human
health. In particular, they impact adversely upon biodiversity,
including decline or elimination of native species - through
competition, predation, or transmission of pathogens - and the
disruption of local ecosystems and ecosystem functions.

(Convention on Biological Diversity)

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Nature of introduction of the IAS

Intentional & Non-Intentional

Land: transport
Cargo, hitchhikers , human factor

Water: transport
On board hitchhikers , vessel hull,
ballast water, cargo, human travel
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Space: transport
Example: Mars sample return mission

A typical sterilisation process for a lander

Picture source: ESA

International context
Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and
Natural Habitats (Bern Convention)

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

(CITES)
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Bonn Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)

Agreement on international humane trapping standards
Ballast Water Management Convention (BWC)

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International context
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Strategic Plan on Biodiversity 2011-2020, including
target 9 on IAS
IAS and pathways are identified and prioritized
Priority species are controlled or eradicated
Measures are in place to manage pathways to
prevent IAS introduction and establishment

EU Biodiversity Strategy
The EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020
(adopted in May 2011) the EU response to the global
Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.
-IAS and pathways are identified and prioritised
-Priority species are controlled or eradicated
-Pathways are managed to prevent introductions and
establishment of new IAS

-Action 15: integrate additional biodiversity concerns

into plant and animal health regimes
-Action 16: establish a dedicated legislative
instrument on IAS EU Regulation proposal on the
prevention and management of the introduction and
spread of invasive alien species

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European Strategy on
Invasive Alien Species: Why?
Biodiversity loss, significant damage to human health and the
economy.

Huge financial implications: estimated to EUR 12 billion

annually (health care, crop yield losses, fish stock losses,
damage to infrastructure, to the navigability of rivers, to
protected species).

Necessity of coordination on the EU level (IAS do not know

administrative borders; good economic sense).
Lack of the legislation in the area.

Invasive Alien Species

Regulation Proposal:
Background and status quo
The strategy development is taking into account the
Review of the EU Common Plant Health Regime and the
Animal Health Strategy.
European Commission: AIS Regulation Proposal
COM(2013)620, September 2013

Current status of the proposal:

-Agreement achieved by the European Parliament and Council of
Ministers (co-decision process) Spring 2014;
-Planned to be published in November 2014 and to enter into
force in January 2015

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Invasive Alien Species

Regulation Proposal:
Definitions
What are invasive alien species (IAS)?
IAS means an alien species whose introduction or spread has been found, through risk
assessment, to threaten biodiversity and ecosystem servicies, and that may also have
a negative impact on human health or the economy.

List of IAS of Union concern (50 species)

IAS of Union concern means species whose negative impact has been deemed such as
to require concerted action at the level of EU

Criteria for the inclusion in the list of IAS of Union concern:

-are alien to the territory of the EU (based on scientific evidence);
-are capable of establishing a viable population and spreading in the environment
under current or foreseeable climate conditions in the EU (based on scientific
evidence);
-it is demonstrated by a risk assessment (see art. 5 for the risk ass. procedure) that
action at EU level is required to prevent their establishment and spread.

MS may submit to the Commission requests for the inclusion of IAS in the list
MS may decide restrictionson intentional release of IAS of MS concern

BWMC versus EU Regulation proposal

Harmful aquatic
organisms and
pathogens

Invasive alien
species
(aquatic or not)
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Which may create

hazards

Whose introduction or
spread has been
found, through risk
assessment, to
threaten
biodiversity

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Invasive Alien Species

Regulation Proposal:
Prevention
Ban on invasive alien species of Union concern
The IAS of Union concern shall not be intentionally:
-brought or transited through the Union territory
-permitted to reproduce
-transported (except to facilitate eradication)
-placed on the market
-used or exchanged
-kept or grown
-released to the environment

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EU MS shall prevent the unintentional introduction

-MS has to carry analysis of the pathways of unintentional introduction and
spread of IAS
-MS has to establish an action plan to address the priority pathways. This plan
shall include:
-awareness raising measures;
-regulatory measures to minimise contamination of goods and commodities, any
vehicle and equipment
-regulatory measures to ensure appropriate checks at the EU borders
-measures of the BWMC

Invasive Alien Species

Regulation Proposal:
Prevention
Permits for research and ex-situ
conservation

Derogation from the bans: permit system allowing

authorised establishments to carry out research or ex-situ
conservation of IAS (conditions listed)

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Invasive Alien Species

Regulation Proposal:
Early detection and rapid eradication
Surveillance system
-MS shall have an official surveillance system to collect and record data
on the occurrence in the environment of IAS by survey, monitoring and
other procedures to prevent spread
-This surveillance system shall, notably, include marine waters
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Official controls at the Union borders

Early detection notifications
Rapid eradication at an early stage of invasion
Derogations from the rapid eradication obligation

Invasive Alien Species

Regulation Proposal:
Management of IAS that are widely spread
Management measures:
physical, chemical or biological actions aimed at the eradication,
population control or containment

Where risk for neighbouring MS notification

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Restoration of damaged ecosystems

MS shall take proportionate restoration measures to assist the recovery
of an ecosystem that has been degradated, damaged, or destroyed by
IAS of Union concern

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Invasive Alien Species

Regulation Proposal:
Every 4 years reporting:
description of the surveillance system; distribution of the
IAS of European concern present in their territory; action
plan; format of the permit; IAS of MS concern
Administrative measures and sanctions:

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MS shall lay down the rules on administrative measures

and sanctions applicable to breaches of the Regulation.
Necessary measures to ensure that they are enforced.
Measures and sanctions must be effective, proportionate
and dissuasive.

Thank you
for your attention

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Anastasiya Kozubovskaya Pell

anastasiya.kozubovskaya@emsa.europa.eu