Invasive Alien Species
REFIT Process
The perspective from European hunters
Meeting of the Directors-general of Hunting and
Game management – 1st of September 2015
Presentation from FACE – The European Federation of
Associations for Hunting and Conservation
Paul Wujek– paul.wujek@face.eu
EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species
Adopted in November 2014 - Entering into force as of 1st of January 2015
Structure:
Chap. 1 General Provisions: Scope, List of EU concerns, risk assessment, etc.
Chap. 2 Prevention: Restrictions, permits, Authorisations, Emergency measures,
Actions plans on the pathways, etc.
Chap. 3 Early detection and rapid eradication: Surveillance system, official
controls, derogations, etc.
Chap. 4 Management of widespread IAS: management measures, restoration of
damaged ecosystems
Chap. 5 Horizontal provisions: cost recovery, cooperation and coordination,
more stringent national rules, etc.
Chap. 6 Final provisions: reporting and review, information support system,
public participation, committee, scientific forum,
exercise of the delegation, penalties, etc.
Meeting of the Directors-general of Hunting and Game management – 1st of September 2015
EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species
Chapter 1 – General Provisions
 List if Invasive alien species of Union concern
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First draft to be available in November 2015
To be officialised in January/February 2016
Should meet all 5 criteria described in the regulation (art. 4)
Should be developed based on a risk assessment (art. 5)
May differ from the national lists (art. 12)
Reviewed at least every 6 years
Chapter 2 – Prevention
 Restrictions: 8 criteria + prevention of unintentional introduction (art. 7)
 Permits: rules for derogations on the restrictions set in article 7 (art.8)
 Authorisations: for activities other than those set out in Article 8 based on public
interest or socio-economic reasons (art. 9)
 APs on pathways for IAS: to be developed for preventing unintentional
introduction and spread of IAS (art. 13)
Meeting of the Directors-general of Hunting and Game management – 1st of September 2015
EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species
Chapter 3 – Early detection and rapid eradication
 Surveillance system (art. 14)
• Collects and records data on the occurrence in the environment of IAS
• Done through surveys, monitoring activities or other procedures
 Rapid eradication at an early stage of invasion (art. 17)
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Conducted within three months after the detection
Should be effective, with regard to human health, the environment and animal
welfare
 Derogations from the obligation of rapid eradication (art. 18)
• If technically unfeasible, the costs are too high or methods are not available
Chapter 4 – Management of IAS that are widely spread
 Management measures (art. 19)
• Developed within 18 month of an IAS being included
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Shall consist of lethal, non-lethal physical, chemical or biological actions
Should be proportionate to the environmental impact
 Restoration activities (art. 20)
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To assist recovery of an ecosystem degraded by IAS
Meeting of the Directors-general of Hunting and Game management – 1st of September 2015
EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species
Timetable for implementation
Date of application
After adoption of the
List of IAS
Action
Article
List of IAS of Union concern
Article 4
18 months
MS carry out comprehensive analysis of
unintentional introduction and spread
Article 13
3 years
Ms implement action plan or action plans to
address priority pathways
Article 13
6, 12 and 18 years
MS review their action plans and transmit them to
EC
Article 13
18 months
MS to establish the surveillance system
Article 14
MS to establish border patrols
Article 15
MS put in place management measures
Article 17
By 1st of June 2019 and
every 6 years
MS to submit the report
Article 24
By 1st June 2021
EC to assess the Regulation
Article 24
By 2nd January 2016
EC Information support system is established
Article 25
By 2nd January 2019
Information support system is used as mechanism
for information exchange
Article 25
By 2nd January 2016
By 2nd January 2016
18 months
Meeting of the Directors-general of Hunting and Game management – 1st of September 2015
Bern Convention
Group of experts on Invasive Alien Species (IAS)
 Established in 1992
 Since 2009: focusing its work on the identification and prioritisation of
pathways, and started preparing targeted Codes of Conduct to
address these priorities
 Currently:
• following the implementation of the Codes of conducts as well as
the EU IAS regulation
• Monitoring progress made at national level for combating IAS
• Exchanging of experience
 In the future:
• developing guidelines for assisting Member States in the
implementation of the IAS regulation
• supporting non-EU countries in developing related frameworks
Meeting of the Directors-general of Hunting and Game management – 1st of September 2015
Code of conduct on Hunting and IAS
 Adopted in December 2013
 Seven principles:
1) Avoid intentional and unintentional releases of new IAS (game)
2) Avoid intentional and unintentional introduction and spread of invasive alien
plants for game food and shelter
3) Use alien species for restocking only if non-invasive or introduced in ancient
historic times
4) Select source for restocking from populations with appropriate genetic and
pathogen management
5) Practice animal-aided hunting minimising the risks of escapes and of impacting
native species
6) Consider eradication and control as essential management tools to tackle IAS and
support their implementation also when targeting game species
7) Collaborate in monitoring and surveillance programmes on IAS
 Report on the implementation of the Code of Conduct
• Presenting activities of European hunters and falconers contributing to
the Code of conduct – to be updated by the end of 2015/beginning 2016
Meeting of the Directors-general of Hunting and Game management – 1st of September 2015
REFIT Process
 Public consultation ended on 26 July 2015
 Number of replies: 552,470 replies were received
 Responses were received from all Member States. The highest number of replies
came from Germany and the UK (each around 100,000 replies)
 The vast majority of replies (99%) were submitted by individuals
 Stimulation through targeted campaigns. The Nature Alert campaign generated
more than 520.000 participants.
 The large majority of respondents replied that their main field of activity or
interest was “nature” (93%), followed by those active or interested in hunting
(4%).
 Next steps:
 Autumn 2015: a dedicated conference will be held on the Fitness Check in
Brussels, where draft results of the evaluation will be shared and discussed with
Member States and key stakeholder groups.
 Early 2016: publication of Commission report on the results of the Fitness Check.
Meeting of the Directors-general of Hunting and Game management – 1st of September 2015
Thank you for your attention
Contact Person: Paul Wujek – paul.wujek@face.eu