{{The European Parliament is voting on a bill to draw up a blacklist to fight invasive alien species such as killer shrimp and Japanese knotweed spreading.}}<\/p>\n
There will be a ban on the possession, transport, selling or growing of species deemed as of “Union Concern”.<\/p>\n
The list was going to be restricted to 50, but will now have no limit. It is not clear which species will be banned.<\/p>\n
A deal between EU member states effectively means the bill will pass and become law within a few months.<\/p>\n
This comes as MPs slam current government policy on controlling alien species as “not fit for purpose”.<\/p>\n
{{Biodiversity loss}}<\/p>\n
The economic and ecological damage caused by non-native species such as the so-called killer shrimp and demon shrimp originally from the Black Sea, the Asian Harlequin ladybird or Japanese knotweed are estimated to cost Europe some 12bn euros every year.<\/p>\n
In the UK the bill is at least \u00a31.7bn.<\/p>\n
Experts say such insects, plants and animals are one of the major causes of biodiversity loss and species extinction.<\/p>\n
They can also spread disease and cause health problems such as asthma, dermatitis and allergies.<\/p>\n
The new law will require member states to analyse how troublesome species enter the country and to improve surveillance systems.<\/p>\n
Official checks at EU borders will be stepped up. Action plans on how to manage established invasive species also have to be developed.<\/p>\n
MEP Pavel Poc, who is guiding the legislation through the European Parliament, said: “Efforts are very often not effective simply because those species do not respect geographical boundaries. Co-operation between member states is therefore crucial.”<\/p>\n
BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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