Organisms to be targeted for surveillance and eradication measures are included in a "Union list"
Regulation 1143/2014 on Invasive Alien Species (IAS) is enforced with a collaboration between the EU Commission and Member States national competent authorities in charge of implementation.
Organisms to be targeted for surveillance and eradication measures are included in a "Union list". IAS can be proposed by the Commission or Member States for listing as of Union concern, according to art. 4 of the Regulation. A formal technical dossier, the Pest Risk Assessment, is evaluated by the Scientific Forum, group of experts on invasive alien species taxonomy, biology and ecology, appointed by Member States.
According to the listing procedure, also stakeholders are invited to provide additional evidence and information, and are represented by the Working Group on IAS, consisting of interested parties, assisting the Commission and facilitating coordination.
Further on, the Pest Risk Assessment compliant to the legislation, identifying species with significant impact on biodiversity impact are submitted for final approval to the IAS Committee, composed by representatives of Member States competent authorities, and subsequently published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/968 of 30.04.18, recently published, provides details about the common elements and methodology to be considered for Pest Risk Assessments, to harmonize and facilitate the listing procedure of IAS of Union concern.
EASIN, as the official information system, supports Member States by gathering and making available scientific and spatial data, and preparing updated distribution maps of IAS of Union concern, used as baseline.
Useful links
DG Environment webpage on invasive alien species
Factsheets of the 49 species of Union concern