# 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, Article 5: Risk assessment

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

1. For the purposes of Article 4, a risk assessment shall be carried out in relation to the current and potential range of invasive alien species, having regard to the following elements:
(a) a description of the species with its taxonomic identity, its history, and its natural and potential range;
(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;
(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;
(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;
(e) a description of the current distribution of the species, including whether the species is already present in Great Britain or in neighbouring countries, and a projection of its likely future distribution;
(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;
(g) an assessment of the potential costs of damage;
(h) a description of the known uses for the species and social and economic benefits deriving from those uses.
2. When the Secretary of State proposes to amend the list of species of special concern under Article 4(1), the Scientific Forum must carry out the risk assessment referred to in paragraph 1.
Whenever the Committee submits a request for the inclusion of a species on the list of species of special concernthe Scientific Forum is responsible for carrying out the risk assessment referred to in paragraph 1....
3. The responsible authorities, acting jointly, may specify the type of evidence acceptable for the purposes of point (b) of Article 4(3) and provide a detailed description of the application of points (a) to (h) of paragraph 1 of this Article. The detailed description shall include the methodology to be applied in the risk assessments, taking into account relevant national and international standards and the need to prioritise action against invasive alien species associated with, or that have the potential to cause, a significant adverse impact on biodiversity or related ecosystem services, as well as on human health or the economy, such adverse impact being considered as an aggravating factor. Before taking any action under this paragraph, the responsible authorities, acting jointly, must consult the Scientific Forum and such other experts as they consider appropriate.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2014/1143/article/5 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2014-1143/article-5
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.