It should be recalled that Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are animals and plants that are introduced accidentally or deliberately into a natural environment where they are not normally found, with serious negative consequences for their new environment.
They represent a major threat to native plants and animals in Europe, causing damage worth billions of euros to the European economy every year. As invasive alien species do not respect borders, action at the European level can be more effective than action at the Member State level.
Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on invasive alien species (the IAS Regulation) entered into force on 1 January 2015, fulfilling Action 16 of Target 5 of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy.
It provides for a set of measures to be taken across the EU in relation to invasive alien species included on a list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern.
The following Invasive Alien Species will come into force at the beginning of February 2019, in one months time, as follows:
| Scientific name | English name | Entry into force |
| Nyctereutes procyonoides | Racoon dog | 2 February 2019 |