Introductory text

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^f1, and in particular Article 4(1) and (2) thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141^f2 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.

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: Acacia saligna (Labill.) H.L.Wendl. (Acacia cyanophylla Lindl.), Acridotheres tristis Linnaeus, 1766, Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Andropogon virginicus L., Arthurdendyus triangulatus (Dendy, 1894) Jones & Gerard (1999), Cardiospermum grandiflorum Sw., Cortaderia jubata (Lemoine ex Carrière) Stapf, Ehrharta calycina Sm., Gymnocoronis spilanthoides (D.Don ex Hook. & Arn.) DC., Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr., Lepomis gibbosus Linnaeus, 1758, Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.Cours.) G.Don (Lespedeza juncea var. sericea (Thunb.) Lace & Hauech), Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) Sw., Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787), Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC., Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitch. (Salvinia adnata Desv.), Triadica sebifera (L.) Small (Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb.).

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.

Since the adoption of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141, the scientific names of some species on the Union list have been revised. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 should therefore be amended accordingly.

Since the adoption of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141, the CN codes laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87^f3 have been updated. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 should therefore be amended accordingly.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: