The common elements Detailed description

Art 5(1)(a) — a description of the species with its taxonomic identity, its history, and its natural and potential range (1) The description of the species shall provide sufficient information to ensure that the identity of the species can be understood without reference to additional documentation. (2) The scope of the risk assessment shall be clearly delineated. While, as a general rule, one risk assessment should be developed for each single species, there may be cases where it may be justified to develop one risk assessment covering more than one species (e.g. species belonging to the same genus with comparable or identical features and impact). It shall be clearly stated if the risk assessment covers more than one species, or if it excludes or only includes certain subspecies, lower taxa, hybrids, varieties or breeds (and if so, which subspecies, lower taxa, hybrids, varieties or breeds). Any such choice must be properly justified. (3) The description of the taxonomic identity of the species shall include all of the following elements: — the taxonomic family, order and class to which the species belongs, — the current scientific name of the species and author of that name, — a list of the most common synonyms of the current scientific name, — names used in commerce, — a list of the most common subspecies, lower taxa, hybrids, varieties or breeds, — information on the existence of other species that look very similar: — other alien species with similar invasive characteristics, to be avoided as substitute species (in this case preparing a risk assessment for more than one species together may be considered, cf. point (2); — other alien species without similar invasive characteristics, that could be used as potential substitute species; — native species, to avoid potential misidentification and mis-targeting. (4) The description of the history of the species shall include the invasion history of the species, including information on countries invaded (in the risk assessment area and elsewhere, if relevant) and an indication of the timeline of the first observations, establishment and spread. (5) The description of the natural and potential range of the species shall include an indication of the continent or part of a continent, climatic zone and habitat where the species is naturally occurring. If applicable, it should be indicated whether the species could naturally spread into the risk assessment area.

Art 5(1)(b) — a description of its reproduction and spread patterns and dynamics including an assessment of whether the environmental conditions necessary for its reproduction and spread exist (1) The descriptions of reproduction and spread patterns shall include elements of the species life history and behavioural traits, which can explain its ability to establish and spread, such as reproduction or growth strategy, dispersal capacity, longevity, environmental and climatic requirements, specialist or generalist characteristics and other relevant available information. (2) The description of the reproduction patterns and dynamics shall include all of the following elements: — a list and description of the reproduction mechanisms of the species, — an assessment of whether suitable environmental conditions for the species' reproduction exist in the risk assessment area, — an indication of the propagule pressure of the species (e.g. number of gametes, seeds, eggs or propagules, number of reproductive cycles per year) for each of those reproduction mechanisms in relation to the environmental conditions in the risk assessment area. (3) The description of the spread patterns and dynamics shall include all of the following elements: — a list and description of the spread mechanisms of the species, — an assessment of whether suitable environmental conditions for the species' spread exist in the risk assessment area, — an indication of the rate of each of those spread mechanisms in relation to the environmental conditions in the risk assessment area.

Art 5(1)(c) — a description of the potential pathways of introduction and spread of the species, both intentional and unintentional, including where relevant the commodities with which the species is generally associated (1) All relevant pathways for introduction as well as for spread shall be considered. The classification of pathways developed by the Convention on Biological Diversity (1) shall be used as a basis. (2) The description of intentional pathways of introduction shall include all of the following elements: — a list and description of pathways with an indication of their importance and associated risks (e.g. the likelihood of introduction into the risk assessment area, based on those pathways; the likelihood of survival, reproduction or increase during transport and storage; the ability and likelihood of transfer from those pathways to a suitable habitat or host), including, where possible, details about the specific origins and end points of the pathways, — an indication of the propagule pressure (e.g. the estimated volume or number of specimens, or the frequency of passage through those pathways), including the likelihood of reinvasion after eradication. (3) The description of unintentional pathways of introduction shall include all of the following elements: — a list and description of pathways with an indication of their importance and associated risks (e.g. the likelihood of introduction into the risk assessment area, based on those pathways; the likelihood of survival, reproduction or increase during transport and storage; the likelihood of non-detection at the entry point; the ability and likelihood of transfer from those pathways to a suitable habitat or host), including, where possible, details about the specific origins and end points of the pathways, — an indication of the propagule pressure (e.g. the estimated volume or number of specimens, or the frequency of passage through those pathways), including the likelihood of reinvasion after eradication. (4) The description of commodities with which the introduction of the species is generally associated shall include a list and description of commodities with an indication of associated risks (e.g. the volume of trade flow; the likelihood of the commodity being contaminated or acting as a vector). (5) The description of intentional pathways of spread shall include all of the following elements: — a list and description of pathways with an indication of their importance and associated risks (e.g. the likelihood of spread within the risk assessment area, based on those pathways; the likelihood of survival, reproduction or increase during transport and storage; the ability and likelihood of transfer from those pathways to a suitable habitat or host), including, where possible, details about the specific origins and end points of the pathways, — an indication of the propagule pressure (e.g. the estimated volume or number of specimens, or the frequency of passage through those pathways), including the likelihood of reinvasion after eradication. (6) The description of unintentional pathways of spread shall include all of the following elements: — a list and description of pathways with an indication of their importance and associated risks (e.g. the likelihood of spread within the risk assessment area, based on those pathways; the likelihood of survival, reproduction or increase during transport and storage; the ease of detection; the ability and likelihood of transfer from those pathways to a suitable habitat or host), including, where possible, details about the specific origins and end points of the pathways, — an indication of the propagule pressure (e.g. the estimated volume or number of specimens, or the frequency of passage through those pathways), including the likelihood of reinvasion after eradication. (7) The description of commodities with which the spread of the species is generally associated shall include a list and description of commodities with an indication of associated risks (e.g. the volume of trade; the likelihood of a commodity being contaminated or acting as vector).

Art 5(1)(d) — a thorough assessment of the risk of introduction, establishment and spread in relevant biogeographical regions in current conditions and in foreseeable climate change conditions (1) The thorough assessment shall provide insights into the risks of a species' introduction into, establishment in and spread within relevant biogeographical regions in the risk assessment area, explaining how foreseeable climate change conditions will influence those risks. (2) The thorough assessment of those risks does not have to include a full range of simulations on the basis of different climate change scenarios, as long as an assessment of likely introduction, establishment and spread within a medium timeframe scenario (e.g. 30-50 years) with a clear explanation of the assumptions is provided. (3) The risks referred to in point (1) may, for example, be described in terms of ‘likelihood’ or ‘rate’.

Art 5(1)(e) — a description of the current distribution of the species, including whether the species is already present in the Union or in neighbouring countries, and a projection of its likely future distribution (1) The description of the current distribution in the risk assessment area or in neighbouring countries shall include all of the following elements: — a list of biogeographic region(s) or marine subregion(s) in the risk assessment area, where the species is present and where it has established, — the current establishment status of the species in each Member State and, where relevant, in neighbouring countries. (2) The projection of the likely future distribution in the risk assessment area or in neighbouring countries shall include all of the following elements: — a list of biogeographic region(s) or marine subregion(s) in the risk assessment area, where the species could establish, in particular under foreseeable climate change conditions, — a list of Member States and, where relevant, neighbouring countries where the species could establish, in particular under foreseeable climate change conditions.

Art 5(1)(f) — a description of the adverse impact on biodiversity and related ecosystem services, including on native species, protected sites, endangered habitats, as well as on human health, safety, and the economy including an assessment of the potential future impact having regard to available scientific knowledge (1) In the description, a distinction shall be made between the known impact and the potential future impact on biodiversity and related ecosystem services. The known impact shall be described for the risk assessment area, and for third countries if relevant (e.g. with similar eco-climatic conditions). The potential future impact shall be assessed only for the risk assessment area. (2) The description of the known impact and the assessment of the potential future impact shall be based on the best available quantitative or qualitative evidence. The magnitude of the impact shall be scored or otherwise classified. The impact scoring or classification system used shall include a reference to the underlying publication. (3) The description of the known impact and the assessment of the potential future impact on biodiversity shall make reference to all of the following elements: — the different biogeographic regions or marine sub-regions where the species could establish, — native species impacted, including red list species and species listed in the annexes of Council Directive 92/43/EEC (2) and species covered by Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), — habitats impacted, including red list habitats and habitats listed in the annexes of Directive 92/43/EEC, — protected sites impacted, — impacted chemical, physical or structural characteristics and functioning of ecosystems, — impacted ecological status of aquatic ecosystems or impacted environmental status of marine waters. (4) The description of the known impact and the assessment of the potential future impact on related ecosystem services shall make reference to all of the following elements: — provisioning services, — regulating services, — cultural services. (5) The description of the known impact and the assessment of potential future impact on human health, safety and the economy, shall, if relevant, include information on: — illnesses, allergies or other affections to humans that may derive directly or indirectly from a species, — damages provoked directly or indirectly by a species with consequences for the safety of people, property or infrastructure, — direct or indirect disruption of, or other consequences for, an economic or social activity due to the presence of a species.

Art 5(1)(g) — an assessment of the potential costs of damage (1) The assessment, in monetary or other terms, of the potential costs of damage on biodiversity and ecosystem services shall describe those costs quantitatively and/or qualitatively depending on what information is available. If the information available is not sufficient to assess the costs for the entire risk assessment area, qualitative data or different case studies from across the Union or third countries shall be used, if available. (2) The assessment of the potential costs of damage on human health, safety, and the economy shall describe those costs quantitatively and/or qualitatively depending on what information is available. If the information available is not sufficient to assess the costs for the entire risk assessment area, qualitative data or different case studies from across the Union or third countries shall be used, if available.