EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 02 - 2012 Num. article: 2012/043

New legislation on invasive alien species including plants in Spain


New legislation was launched in Spain on invasive alien species, including plants, in December 2011, and it contains in its appendices a ‘Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species’. The introduction of species listed in this Catalogue is prohibited in the natural environment. Their possession, transport, movement, trade of live and dead specimens or propagules are also prohibited within Spain, as well as their export. Authorisations may nevertheless be granted for research or health reasons.
The inclusion of species in the Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species is made by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment (Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente) at the request of the Spanish regions or cities, but can also be done by an individual expert on the basis of technical justification. In both cases, a risk analysis needs to be performed.
Whenever a new alien species that may represent a threat is found in the Spanish territory, whether it is included in the Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species or not, an ‘Alert Team’ should be contacted urgently, and the competent authorities should take measures against the species. The species should be monitored, controlled and possibly eradicated; they should prevent the movement of infested commodities. The competent authorities should inform growers and traders of the presence of invasive alien species and take measures to limit the spread of such species when necessary.
For ornamental plants that are listed in the Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species but which were acquired or produced before the enforcement of this new legislation, a delay has been granted but the new legislation will have to be implemented before the 1st of December 2013. In the meantime, horticulturists should prevent the introduction of these species into the environment.
The plant species included in the Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species are listed in the table and the areas in Spain to which this legislation applies are indicated in the last column.


Species
Area of application
Acacia dealbata (Fabaceae, EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants)
Whole of Spain (except Canarias and Baleares)
Acacia farnesiana (Fabaceae)
Canarias only
Acacia salicina (Fabaceae)
Canarias only
Agave americana (Asparagaceae)
Whole of Spain
Ageratina adenophora (Asteraceae)
Canarias only
Ageratina riparia (Asteraceae)
Canarias only
Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae)
Whole of Spain (except Canarias)
Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Asteraceae, EPPO List of IAP)
Whole of Spain
Araujia sericifera (Apocynaceae, EPPO Alert List)
Whole of Spain
Arundo donax (Poaceae)
Canarias only
Asparagus asparagoides (Asparagaceae)
Whole of Spain
Atriplex semilunaris (Amaranthaceae)
Canarias only
Azolla spp. (Azollaceae)
Whole of Spain
Baccharis halimifolia (Asteraceae, EPPO List of IAP)
Whole of Spain
Buddleia davidii (Scrophulariaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
Whole of Spain
Cabomba caroliniana (Cabombaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
Whole of Spain
Calotropis procera (Asclepiadoideae)
Canarias only
Carpobrotus acinaciformis (Aizoaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
Whole of Spain (except Canarias)
Carpobrotus edulis (Aizoaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
Whole of Spain (except Canarias)
Cortaderia spp. (Poaceae)
Whole of Spain (except Canarias)
Cotula coronopifolia (Asteraceae)
Baleares only
Cylindropuntia tunicata (Cactaceae)
Whole of Spain
Cyrtomium falcatum (Dryopteridaceae)
Canarias only
Egeria densa (Hydrocharitaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
Whole of Spain
Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae, EPPO A2 List)
Whole of Spain
Elodea canadensis (Hydrocharitaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
Whole of Spain (except Canarias)
Fallopia japonica (Polygonaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
Whole of Spain
Furcraea foetida (Asparagaceae)
Canarias only
Helianthus tuberosus (Asteraceae, EPPO List of IAP)
Whole of Spain
Heracleum mantegazzianum (Apiaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
Whole of Spain
Ipomoea indica (Convolvulaceae)
Whole of Spain
Leucaena leucocephala (Mimosoideae)
Canarias only
Ludwigia spp.(except L. palustris) (Onagraceae, EPPO A2 List)
Whole of Spain
Maireana brevifolia (Amaranthaceae)
Canarias only
Myriophyllum aquaticum (Haloragaceae, EPPO List of IAP)
Whole of Spain
Opuntia dillenii (Cactaceae)
Whole of Spain
Opuntia maxima (Cactaceae)
Whole of Spain
Opuntia stricta (Cacataceae)
Whole of Spain
Pennisetum clandestinum (Poaceae)
Canarias and Baleares only
Pennisetum purpureum (Poaceae)
Canarias only
Pennisetum setaceum (Poaceae, EPPO Alert List)
Whole of Spain
Pennisetum villosum (Poaceae)
Baleares only
Phoenix dactylifera (Arecaceae)
Canarias only
Pistia stratiotes (Aroideae, EPPO Alert List)
Whole of Spain
Salvinia spp. (Salviniaceae)
Whole of Spain
Senecio inaequidens (Asteraceae, EPPO List of IAP)
Whole of Spain
Spartina alterniflora (Poaceae)
Whole of Spain
Spartina densiflora (Poaceae)
Whole of Spain
Spartina patens (Poaceae)
Whole of Spain
Stipa neesiana (Poaceae, EPPO Alert List)
Canarias only
Tradescantia fluminensis (Commelinaceae)
Whole of Spain
Ulex europaeus (Fabaceae)
Canarias only


Sources

Ministerio de agricultura, alimentación y medio ambiente, Boletín Official de Estado, Lunes 12 de diciembre de 2011, Núm. 29, Sec. I., 25 pp