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EU Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Committee Approves Update to List of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern

Date Released: Friday, September 12, 2025

Notice Pursuant to Regulation 9(1) of the IAS Regulations (SI 374/2024)

At a meeting of the EU Invasive Alien Species Committee in Brussels on Friday 20 June, Member States approved a European Commission proposal to update the list of invasive alien species of Union concern with 25 new species.

Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulation provides for a list of invasive alien species of Union concern. This list is updated periodically by the IAS Committee (provided for by Article 27 of the EU Regulation), based on a proposal from the European Commission. Before being included on the proposal, the species must first be risk assessed by members of the Scientific Forum (provided for by Article 28 of the EU Regulation). At the 21st meeting of the IAS Committee on 20 June in Brussels, the Committee  accepted  the latest Commission proposal.

 Included in this update are eight species that are present or have occurred in Ireland

  • North American Mink  is a significant predator of ground-nesting birds in Ireland, including very rare species such as curlew and corncrake. Mink is listed on Ireland’s list of invasive alien species of National Concern as published in the European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations of 2024.
  • Sika Deer has been added to the Union list in recognition of the damage it can cause to native woodlands and other important habitats across Europe.
  • Yabby is established in one site in Ireland.  
  • Obama nungara There is a benefit to listing flatworms as it imposes restrictions on their movement in the EU, and reduces the damage they can do to native trees and woodlands.

Australian swamp stonecrop is a widespread freshwater aquatic plant in Ireland.

  • For the three Reynoutria (invasive knotweed species including Japanese knotweed), there has already been large amount of eradication/control for these species in Ireland largely by the public sector (TII on national roads and Local authorities on public roads and properties, OPW sites/works etc.).

There will now be an obligation on EU Member States to eradicate these newly listed species if they arrive in their countries, or to put a management plan in place if the species is already present and widespread.

The requirements for mink management will be deferred for two years to allow some  Member States with active mink farms to put appropriate measures in place.

The updated list came into effect with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1422 of 17 July 2025

The Link to Commission Implementing Regulation with full list is at the European Union LEX Website.