List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern

The core of Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 is the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (the Union list). The species included on the Union list are subject to restrictions and measures set out in the Regulation. These include restrictions on keeping, importing, selling, breeding and growing. Member States are required to take action on pathways of unintentional introduction, to take measures for the early detection and rapid eradication of these species, and to manage species that are already widely spread in their territory.

The initial Union list entered into force on 3 August 2016. Press release and questions & answers.

The first update of the Union list entered into force on 2 August 2017. Press release.

The second update of the Union list entered into force on 15 August 2019. A consolidated version of the Union list is available here.

The third update of the Union list entered into force on 2 August 2022. A consolidated version of the Union list is available here.

Process towards adding species on the Union list

Both the European Commission and the Member States can propose additional species for inclusion on the Union list, according to Article 4(4) of the Regulation, including a risk assessment. All risk assessments are available here.

An overview of risk assessments under preparation is available here. A horizon scanning has been commissioned in support of the selection process. It cannot in any way be regarded as the list that the Commission will be proposing, nor to represent the opinion of the Commission.

Proposed risk assessments are first reviewed by the Scientific Forum. It provides an opinion on whether the risk assessments are robust and fit for purpose, according to an agreed procedure. While the Scientific Forum is reviewing these risk assessments, stakeholders are invited to submit additional evidence that could improve the risk assessments. The risk assessments currently under review by the Scientific Forum are available here. The deadline to submit risk assessments to be reviewed by the Scientific Forum in 2021 is 10 February 2021.

Proposals for which the underpinning risk assessments receive a positive opinion from the Scientific Forum are forwarded to the IAS Committee. It examines the compliance of the proposed species with the criteria for listing (cf. Art 4(3) and 4(6) of the IAS Regulation). The approved risk assessments ready for the opinion of the IAS Committee are available here.

The Commission makes the draft proposal for an update of the Union list available for public feedback. Having considered this feedback, the Commission submits the final proposal for an update of the Union list to the IAS Committee. Any update of the Union list is subject to the positive opinion of the IAS Committee.

Consolidated List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern

This brochure includes a short description of all invasive alien species of Union concern, offering brief, non-technical and informal summaries of their origin, their present distribution in the EU, how they threaten our native biodiversity, and how the applicable restrictions and obligations will help mitigate their negative impacts.

Reports showing the baseline distribution of the species on the Union list published by the Joint Research Centre can be found here. An update of the baseline distribution including the second list update is in preparation.

PLANTS

Scientific name	English name	Entry into force
Acacia saligna (Acacia cyanophylla)	Golden wreath wattle	15 August 2019
Ailanthus altissima	Tree of heaven	15 August 2019
Alternanthera philoxeroides	Alligator weed	2 August 2017
Andropogon virginicus	Broomsedge bluestem	15 August 2019
Asclepias syriaca	Common milkweed	2 August 2017
Baccharis halimifolia	Eastern baccharis	3 August 2016
Cabomba caroliniana	Fanwort	3 August 2016
Cardiospermum grandiflorum	Balloon vine	15 August 2019
Celastrus orbiculatus	Oriental bittersweet	2 August 2027
Cortaderia jubata	Purple pampas grass	15 August 2019
Eichhornia crassipes	Water hyacinth	3 August 2016
Elodea nuttallii	Nuttall's waterweed	2 August 2017
Ehrharta calycina	Perrenial veldt grass	15 August 2019
Gunnera tinctoria	Chilean rhubarb	2 August 2017
Gymnocoronis spilanthoides	Senegal tea plant	15 August 2019
Hakea sericea	Needlebush	2 August 2022
Heracleum mantegazzianum	Giant hogweed	2 August 2017
Heracleum persicum	Persian hogweed	3 August 2016
Heracleum sosnowskyi	Sosnowsky's hogweed	3 August 2016
Humulus scandens	Japanese hop	15 August 2019
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides	Floating pennywort	3 August 2016
Impatiens glandulifera	Himalayan balsam	2 August 2017
Koenigia polystachya	Himalayan knotweed	2 August 2022
Lagarosiphon major	Curly waterweed	3 August 2016
Lespedeza cuneata (Lespedeza juncea var. sericea)	Chinese bushclover	15 August 2019
Ludwigia grandiflora	Water-primrose	3 August 2016
Ludwigia peploides	Floating primrose-willow	3 August 2016
Lygodium japonicum	Vine-like fern	15 August 2019
Lysichiton americanus	American skunk cabbage	3 August 2016
Microstegium vimineum	Japanese stiltgrass	2 August 2017
Myriophyllum aquaticum	Parrot's feather	3 August 2016
Myriophyllum heterophyllum	Broadleaf watermilfoil	2 August 2017
Parthenium hysterophorus	Whitetop weed	3 August 2016
Pennisetum setaceum	Crimson fountaingrass	2 August 2017
Persicaria perfoliata	Asiatic tearthumb	3 August 2016
Pistia stratiotes	Water lettuce	2 August 2024
Prosopis juliflora	Mesquite	15 August 2019
Pueraria lobata	Kudzu vine	3 August 2016
Rugulopteryx okamurae	An alga	2 August 2022
Salvinia molesta (Salvinia adnata)	Salvinia moss	15 August 2019
Triadica sebifera (Sapium sebiferum)	Chinese tallow	15 August 2019

ANIMALS

Scientific name	English name	Entry into force
Acridotheres tristis	Common myna	15 August 2019
Alopochen aegyptiacus	Egyptian goose	2 August 2017
Ameiurus melas	Black bullhead	2 August 2022
Arthurdendyus triangulates	New Zealand flatworm	15 August 2019
Axis axis	Chital	2 August 2022
Callosciurus erythraeus	Pallas' squirrel	3 August 2016
Callosciurus finlaysonii	Finlayson's squirrel	2 August 2022
Channa argus	Northern snakehead	2 August 2022
Corvus splendens	Indian house crow	3 August 2016
Eriocheir sinensis	Chinese mittencrab	3 August 2016
Faxonius rusticus	Rusty crayfish	2 August 2022
Fundulus heteroclitus	Mummichog	2 August 2024
Gambusia affinis	Western mosquitofish	2 August 2022
Gambusia holbrooki	Eastern mosquitofish	2 August 2022
Herpestes javanicus	Small Asian mongoose	3 August 2016
Lampropeltis getula	Common kingsnake	2 August 2022
Lepomis gibbosus	Pumpkinseed	15 August 2019
Limnoperna fortunei	Golden mussel	2 August 2022
Lithobates catesbeianus	American bullfrog	3 August 2016
Morone americana	White perch	2 August 2022
Muntiacus reevesi	Muntjac deer	3 August 2016
Myocastor coypus	Coypu	3 August 2016
Nasua nasua	Coati	3 August 2016
Nyctereutes procyonoides	Raccoon dog	2 February 2019
Ondatra zibethicus	Muskrat	2 August 2017
Orconectes limosus	Spiny-cheek crayfish	3 August 2016
Orconectes virilis	Virile crayfish	3 August 2016
Oxyura jamaicensis	Ruddy duck	3 August 2016
Pacifastacus leniusculus	Signal crayfish	3 August 2016
Percottus glenii	Amur sleeper	3 August 2016
Plotosus lineatus	Striped eel catfish	15 August 2019
Procambarus clarkii	Red swamp crayfish	3 August 2016
Procambarus fallax f. virginalis	Marbled crayfish	3 August 2016
Procyon lotor	Raccoon	3 August 2016
Pseudorasbora parva	Stone moroko	3 August 2016
Pycnonotus cafer	Red-vented bulbul	2 August 2022
Sciurus carolinensis	Grey squirrel	3 August 2016
Sciurus niger	Fox squirrel	3 August 2016
Solenopsis geminata	Imported fire ant	2 August 2022
Solenopsis invicta	Red imported fire ant	2 August 2022
Solenopsis richteri	Black imported fire ant	2 August 2022
Tamias sibiricus	Siberian chipmunk	3 August 2016
Threskiornis aethiopicus	Sacred ibis	3 August 2016
Trachemys scripta	Red-eared, yellow-bellied and Cumberland sliders	3 August 2016
Vespa velutina nigrithorax	Asian hornet	3 August 2016
Wasmannia auropunctata	Electric ant	2 August 2022
Xenopus laevis	African clawed frog	2 August 2024

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