1. Recent developments in relation to the implementation of the IAS Regulation Information point
European Commission
DG Environment
18th meeting of CGBN
Brussels, 12 March 2015

2. Commission activities
Legal obligations for the Commission
Establishment of IAS Committee
Establisment of an Information Exchange Mechanism- 2/1/2016 and 2/1/2019
Establishment of IAS Scientific Forum
Preparation of Draft Implementing Act with List of IAS of Union Concern - 2/1/2016
Establishment electronic autorisation system
Considering the (re-)establishment of an IAS Working Group

3. 1. Establishment of IAS Committee
Members = 28 Member States
Task = Adoption of Implementing Acts
Art.4(1) List of IAS of Union concern
Art.8(6) Format for permits for IAS of Union concern
Art.10(4) Emergency measures
Art.11(2) Regional cooperation
Art.18(2) Rejection of eradication derogation
Art.24(4) Technical formats for reporting
Voting by qualified majority

4. 2. Establisment of an Information Exchange Mechanism - 2/1/2016 and 2/1/2019
Based on EASIN developed by JRC
By 2 January 2016
Data support mechanism interconnecting existing data systems
Shall become a tool for handling notifications
By 2 January 2019
Mechanism for exchanging information

5. 3. Establishment of IAS Scientific Forum
Members = 28 representatives of the scientific community appointed by the Member States
Task = advice on any scientific question related to the application of this Regulation, in particular:
Art.4 - List of IAS of Union concern
Art.5 - Risk assessment
Art.10 – Emergency measures
Art.18 - Derogations from the obligation of rapid eradication
Opinion as far as possible by consensus (or voting by simple majority)

6. 4. Preparation Draft Implementing Act List of IAS of Union Concern - 2/1/2016
Study 1 - Framework for the identification of invasive alien species of Union concern
Workshop completing risk assessments
-> feed into first list of IAS of Union concern
Study 2 - Horizon scanning
-> feed into future risk assessments, and future updates of list of IAS of Union concern

7. Obligations on IAS of Union Concern
Prevention
Not intentionally be brought into the Union, etc + possibility for derogation and autorisation
Priority pathways will be addressed
Early detection and rapid eradication
Notification of newly establishing IAS
Rapid eradication + possibility for derogation
Management of established IAS
Eradication, population control or containment
Proportionate to the impact on the environment and appropriate to the specific circumstances of the MS, be based on an analysis of costs and benefits

8. 5. Establishment of electronic autorisation system
Ongoing

9. 6. Considering the (re-)establishment of an IAS Working Group
Members = Member States, Stakeholders and Experts
Task = discuss issues of common interest in support of implementation work

10. Next steps 25 February: 1st IAS Committee meeting
21 April: 1st IAS Scientific Forum meeting
End of April: 2nd IAS Committee meeting
4 June: Green Week on nature, with dedicated session on IAS
June-August: Interservice consultation
September-October: WTO notification (list)
November: 3rd IAS Committee meeting

11. Next steps for MS Ongoing By 5 November 2015 By 2 January 2016
MS may continue more stringent measures
MS to notify national measures with implications on the internal market or trade (TRIS – SPS)
By 5 November 2015
MS notify Commission and other MS of Competent Authority in charge of applying the Regulation
By 2 January 2016
MS have border control in place
MS have provisions on penalties in place

12. Next steps for MS after entry into force of list of IAS of Union concern
18 months after entry into force of the first list
Identification of priority pathways
Surveillance system
Management measures on IAS of Union concern
3 years after entry into force of the first list
Action plan on priority pathways

13. CBD & IPBES activities on IAS
CBD COP12:
Decision XII/16: Voluntary guidance on risks associated with alien species (as pets, aquarium, terrarium species, and as live bait and live food, etc.)
Decision XII/17: Future work on IAS
IPBES/2/16: Initial scoping for a thematic assessment of IAS and their control

14. Thank you for your attention!