RESTRICTIONS
Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 has this to say about live invasive alien species of Union Concern… You must not intentionally:
- bring them into EU territory, including transit subject to customs control
- keep them, even in contained holding
- breed them, even in contained holding
- transport them to, from, or within the EU, except to eradication facilities
- market them, including their sale, use, or trade
- allow their reproduction, growth, or cultivation, even in contained holding
- release them into the environment.
PERMITS
Derogations to the above are possible. The competent authorities may grant a license in the following cases:
- To institutions that hold listed IAS for research and/or ex situ conservation (i.e. species conservation outside the country of origin) or to create products from them that promote human health. These licenses are subject to certain conditions. And please remember that other regions or the federal government may require additional licenses if you plan to transport the species across regional or national borders.
- Flanders: apply online here.
- Wallonia: send your application to invasives@spw.wallonie.be.
- Brussels Capital Region: send your application to biodiv@leefmilieu.brussels.
- Federal government: apply online here.
- The federal government is responsible for issuing derogation licenses related to import bans. Click here for the Dutch version or here for the French.
- Under exceptional circumstances, the European Commission grants authorisation to carry out activities not in the ‘Restrictions’ section. Those circumstances must be substantiated by compelling public interest, which includes social and economic factors.
- Controlled conditions must always be guaranteed for species containment.
Issued PERMITS (2024 - 2025) article 8
| Scientific name | Common name | Number of specimens | Purpose | CN code |
| Ailanthus altissima | Tree of heaven | 3 | Research | Ex 0602 90 84 |
| Althernanthera philoxeroides | Alligator weed | 3 | Research | Ex 0602 90 50 |
| Andropogon virginicus | Broomsedge bluestem | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Asclepias syriaca | Common milkweed | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Baccharis halimifolia | Eastern baccharis | 3 | Research | Ex 0602 90 49 |
| Cabomba caroliniana | Carolina fanworth | 3 | Research | Ex 0602 90 50 |
| Cardiospermum grandiflorum | Balloon vine | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Pennisetum setaceum | Fountain grass | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Cortaderia jubata | Purple pampas grass | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Ehrartha calycina | Perennial veldtgrass | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Elodea nuttali | Nutall's waterweed | 30 | Research | Ex 0602 90 50 |
| Gunnera tinctoria | Giant rhubarb | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Gymnocoronis spilanthoides | Senegal teaplant | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Hakea sericea | Needlebush | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Heracleum mantegazzianum | Giant hogweed | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Heracleum persicum | Persian hogweed | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Heracleum sosnowskyi | Sosnowskyis hogweed | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Humulus scandens | Japanese hop | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Hydrocotyle ranunculoides | Floating pennyworth | 3 | Research | Ex 0602 90 50 |
| Lagarosiphon major | Curly waterweed | 30 | Research | Ex 0602 90 50 |
| Lespedeza cuneata | Chinese bushclover | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Ludwigia grandiflora | Water primrose | 3 | Research | Ex 0602 90 50 |
| Ludwigia peploides | Floating primrose-willow | 3 | Research | Ex 0602 90 50 |
| Lygodium japonicum | Japanese climbing fern | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Lysichiton americanus | American skunk cabbage | 3 | Research | Ex 0602 90 50 |
| Microstegium vimineum | Nepalele browntop | 30 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Myriophyllum aquaticum | Parrots feather | 30 | Research | Ex 0602 90 50 |
| Myriophyllum heterophyllum | Broadleaf watermilfoil | 3 | Research | Ex 0602 90 50 |
| Prosopis juliflora | Mesquite | 3 | Research | Ex 0602 90 47 |
| Parthenium hysterophorus | Parthenium weed | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Polygonum perfoliatum | Mile-a-minute plant | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Pistia stratoites | Water lettuce | 3 | Research | Ex 0602 90 50 |
| Eichornia crassipes | Water hyacint | 30 | Research | Ex 0602 90 50 |
| Pueraria lobata | Kudzu | 3 | Research | Ex 1209 99 99 |
| Salvinia molesta | Kariba weed | 30 | Research | Ex 0602 90 50 |
| Acacia saligna | Coojong | 3 | Research | Ex 0602 90 47 |
| Eriocheir sinensis | Chinese mitten crab | >5000 | Research | Ex 0106 90 00 |
| Lithobates catesbeianus | American bullfrog | 5000 | Research | Ex 0106 19 00 |
| Xenopus laevis | African clawed frog | 540 | Research | Ex 0106 90 00 |
| Pseudorasbora parva | Topmouth gudgeon | 5000 | Research | Ex 0301 99 18 |
| Vespa velutina nigrithorax | Asian hornet | 5000 | Research | Ex 0106 49 00 |
| Procambarus clarkii | Red swamp crayfish | 5000 | Research | Ex 0306 39 10 |
| Pacifastacus leniusculus | Virile crayfish | 5000 | Research | Ex 0306 39 10 |
| Orconectes limosus | Spinycheeck crayfish | 5000 | Research | Ex 0306 39 10 |