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, and in particular Article 4(1) and (2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 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: Alopochen aegyptiacus Linnaeus, 1766; Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.; Asclepias syriaca L.; Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) St. John; Gunnera tinctoria (Molina) Mirbel; Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier; Impatiens glandulifera Royle; Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) A. Camus; Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michaux; Nyctereutes procyonoides Gray, 1834; Ondatra zibethicus Linnaeus, 1766; Pennisetum setaceum (Forssk.) Chiov.
(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)
Some Member States envisage applying to the Commission for authorizing the continuation of farming Nyctereutes procyonoides Gray, 1834 under Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 for alleged compelling public interests of a social or economic nature. Against this background, the inclusion of this species on the Union list should be subject to a transition period to allow completing the procedure of Article 9 of that Regulation before the listing of this species takes effect.
(5)
Since the date of adoption of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141, the CN codes laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 have been updated, with the most recent amendments having been laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1821. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Invasive Alien Species,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: