Given the damage to biodiversity caused by IAS, it is essential to:
- be able to act on the introduction of such species, particularly those not yet present in Europe;
- manage those that are already established on European soil.
This is the objective of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 which came into force in the European Union in January 2015.
Invasive Alien Species of Union concern
This regulation sets out the rules designed to prevent, minimise and mitigate the adverse effects on biodiversity of the introduction and propagation of invasive alien species considered to be of concern in the Member States of the Union.
The “concerning” character of an invasive alien species is determined after a risk assessment carried out according to objective criteria. These scientific studies are generally carried out by the Member States even though the European Commission may also carry them out itself.
The European Commission draws up the list of invasive alien species of concern to the European Union. The procedure is conducted using the committee procedure during which the Commission asks Member States to vote in favour of or against a list of species the scientific relevance of which has been previously validated by the European Scientific Forum on Invasive Alien Species. This list changes and is regularly updated to reflect emerging species of concern to the EU.
Four lists have already been adopted since 2020. A total of 41 plants and 47 animals are on the European list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern. Two posters include illustrations of the majority of the plants and animals species concerned.
1. Plants
You can order this poster.
| Alternanthera philoxeroides |
Alligator weed |
| Cabomba caroliniana |
Carolina fanwort |
| Eichhornia crassipes |
Water hyacinth |
| Elodea nuttallii |
Nuttall's waterweed |
| Gymnocoronis spilanthoides |
Senegal tea plant |
| Hydrocotyle ranunculoides |
Floating pennywort |
| Lagarosiphon major |
Curly waterweed |
| Ludwigia grandiflora |
Water-primrose |
| Ludwigia peploides |
Floating primrose-willow |
| Lysichiton americanus |
American skunk cabbage |
| Myriophyllum aquaticum |
Parrot's feather |
| Myriophyllum heterophyllum |
Broadleaf watermilfoil |
| Pistia stratiotes |
Water lettuce (from 2 August 2024) |
| Rugulopterix okamurae |
Rugulopterix okamurae |
| Salvinia molesta |
Kariba weed |
| Acacia saligna |
Coojong |
| Ailanthus alissima |
Tree of heaven |
| Baccharis halimifolia |
Eastern baccharis |
| Hakea sericea |
Needlebush |
| Prosopis juliflora |
Mesquite |
| Triadica sebifera |
Chinese tallow tree |
| Andropogon virginicus |
Broomsedge bluestem |
| Cortaderia jubata |
Purple pampas grass |
| Ehrharta calycina |
Perennial veldt grass |
| Microstegium vimineum |
Nepalese browntop |
| Pennisetum setaceum |
Fountain grass |
| Cardiospermum grandiflorum |
Balloon vine |
| Celastrus orbiculatus |
Staff vine (from 2 August 2024) |
| Humulus scandens |
Japanese hop |
| Lygodium japonicum |
Japanese climbing fern |
| Persicaria perfoliata |
Asiatic tearthumb |
| Pueraria montana (var lobata) |
Kudzu |
| Asclepias syriaca |
Common milkweed |
| Gunnera tinctoria |
Giant rhubarb |
| Heracleum mantegazzianum |
Giant hogweed |
| Heracleum persicum |
Persian hogweed |
| Heracleum sosnowskyi |
Sosnowskyi's hogweed |
| Impatiens glandulifera |
Himalayan balsam |
| Koenigia polystachya |
Himalayan knotweed |
| Lespedeza cuneata |
Chinese bushclover |
| Parthenium hysterophorus |
Parthenium weed |
2. Animals
You can order this poster.
a) 33 vertebrates
| Axis axis |
Chital |
| Callosciurus erythraeus |
Pallas's squirrel |
| Calloscirius finlaysonii |
Finlayson's squirrel |
| Herpestes javanicus |
Small Indian mongoose |
| Muntiacus reevesi |
Chinese muntjac |
| Myocastor coypus |
Coypu |
| Nasua nasua |
South American coati |
| Nyctereutes procyonoides |
Raccoon dog |
| Ondatra zibethicus |
Muskrat |
| Procyon lotor |
Northern raccoon |
| Sciurus carolinensis |
(Eastern) grey squirrel |
| Sciurus niger |
Fox squirrel |
| Tamias sibiricus |
Siberian chipmunk |
| Acridotheres tristis |
Common myna |
| Alopochen aegyptiacus |
Egyptian goose |
| Corvus splendens |
House crow |
| Oxyura jamaicensis |
Ruddy duck |
| Pycnonotus cafer |
Red-vented bulbul |
| Threskiornis aethiopicus |
Sacred ibis |
- 4 reptiles and amphibians:
| Lampropeltis getula |
Common kingsnake |
| Lithobates catesbeianus |
American bullfrog |
| Trachemys scripta |
Pond slider |
| Xenopus laevis |
African clawed frog (from 2 August 2024) |
| Ameirus melas |
Black bullhead |
| Channa argus |
Northern snakehead |
| Fundulus heteroclitus |
Mummichog (from 2 August 2024) |
| Gambusia affinis |
Western mosquitofish |
| Gambusia holbrookii |
Eastern mosquitofish |
| Lepomis gibbosus |
Pumpkinseed |
| Morone americana |
White perch |
| Perccottus glenii |
Amur sleeper |
| Pseudorasbora parva |
Topmouth gudgeon |
| Plotosus lineatus |
Striped eel catfish |
b) 14 invertebrates
| Arthurdendyus triangulatus |
New Zealand flatworm |
| Eriocheir sinensis |
Chinese mitten crab |
| Faxonius rusticus |
Rusty crayfish |
| Faxionus limosus |
Spinycheek crayfish |
| Faxionus virilis |
Virile crayfish |
| Limnoperna fortunei |
Golden mussel |
| Pacifastacus leniusculus |
Signal crayfish |
| Procambarus clarkii |
Red swamp crayfish |
| Procambarus fallax f. virginalis |
Marbled crayfish |
| Solenopsis geminata |
Tropical fire ant |
| Solenopsis invicta |
Red imported fire ant |
| Solenopsis richteri |
Black imported fire ant |
| Vespa velutina nigrithorax |
Asian hornet |
| Wasmannia auropunctata |
Little fire ant |
The Scientific Secretariat on IAS has published an information guide on the species on the European list.
