COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2022/1203

of 12 July 2022

amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 to update the list of invasive alien species of Union concern

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (1), and in particular Article 4(1) and (2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 (2) establishes a list of invasive alien species of Union concern ('the Union list'), which is to be kept updated as appropriate, in accordance with Article 4(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014.

(2) The Commission has concluded, on the basis of the available evidence and the risk assessments carried out pursuant to Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014, that all criteria set out in Article 4(3) of that Regulation are met for the following invasive alien species: Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820), Axis axis (Erxleben, 1777), Callosciurus finlaysonii (Horsfield, 1823), Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb., Channa argus (Cantor, 1842), Faxonius rusticus (Girard, 1852), Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus, 1766), Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard, 1853), Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859, Hakea sericea Schrad. & J.C.Wendl., Koenigia polystachya (Wall. ex Meisn.) T.M.Schust. & Reveal, Lampropeltis getula (Linnaeus, 1766), Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857), Morone americana (Gmelin, 1789), Pistia stratiotes L., Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 1766), Rugulopteryx okamurae (E.Y.Dawson) I.K.Hwang, W.J.Lee & H.S.Kim, 2009, Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius, 1804), Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972, Solenopsis richteri Forel, 1909, Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger, 1863) and Xenopus laevis (Daudin, 1802).

(3) The Commission has concluded that for all those invasive alien species all elements set out in Article 4(6) of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 have been duly considered.

(4) The species Xenopus laevis (Daudin, 1802) and Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus, 1766) are used for scientific research that should not be disrupted. The inclusion of those species on the Union list should be deferred in order to give Member States time to prepare for issuing the permits referred to in Article 8(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 before the listing of these species takes effect.

(5) Taking into account the long-term investments made by the growers of Pistia stratiotes L. and Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. in some Member States, the inclusion of these species on the Union list should be subject to a transition period.

(6) Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Invasive Alien Species,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1 The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Point (2) of the Annex shall apply from 2 August 2024. Point (3) of the Annex shall apply from 2 August 2027.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 12 July 2022. For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN

(1) OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 35.

(2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 of 13 July 2016 adopting a list of invasive alien species of Union concern pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 189, 14.7.2016, p. 4).