The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry coordinates alien species matters and implementing legislation in Finland. The Finnish Advisory Board for Invasive Alien Species, appointed by the Council of State, is Finland’s national expert body in matters concerning invasive alien species.
This national alien species portal vieraslajit.fi help citizens to recognise alien species and report their observations.
An alien species means any live plant, animal or other organism introduced outside its natural range by human activity, whether accidentally or deliberately. Not all alien species are invasive. An invasive alien species means an alien species which has been found to threaten biodiversity. Alien species and invasive alien species are defined in the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species (Article 3, paragraphs 1 and 2).
For more information see also EASIN FAQ.
Invasive alien species of Union concern are classified as invasive alien species throughout the EU, their importation, cultivation, sales and other possession or release into the environment are prohibited.
Invasive alien species of national concern are invasive alien species not included in the Union list which on the grounds of available scientific evidence may cause damage to biodiversity or other damage to wild fauna or risk to health or safety in the Finnish environment.
The EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species (1143/2014) lays down provisions on measures employed by the Member States to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive alien species in EU territory.
The national Act on Managing the Risk Caused by Alien Species (1709/2015) lays down provisions on how the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species is to be implemented in Finland.
The List of species of Union concern contains the invasive alien species to which the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species applies.
The list of invasive alien species of national concern contains species which are not included on the List of species of Union concern but which can be considered harmful in the Finnish environment.
The national list includes the invasive alien species which are not included on the List of species of Union concern but which can be considered harmful in the Finnish environment. Provisions on the national list are laid down in the Government decree 1725/2015 on Invasive Alien Species of National Concern. The list will be updated as necessary. The national list entered into force on January 1st 2016.
Invasive alien species, referred to in the regulations concerning alien species, are the species which have been included on the List of Union concern or the national list. Therefore alien species that are classified as harmful in the national Strategy on Invasive Alien Species and are not - at least for the time being - included on either list are therefore not regulated by the alien species regulations nor acts. The only provision applicable to all alien species is section 3 of the Act on Managing the Risks Caused by Alien Species, which forbids to release such alien species into the environment.
The most important way to combat and prevent the spread of alien species is to spread information as efficiently as possible about the harm caused by the species and about the methods available for combating them. For instance, voluntary information or eradication campaigns can be used for this purpose in the same way as for the prevention of the listed species.
Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) supervises the regulations in compliance with the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species, and the national Act on Managing the Risk Caused by Alien Species and the Government Decree. The Customs supervises in compliance with the regulations on the importation of invasive alien species.
The List of Union concern, the national list and the prohibitions they involve apply to all commercial operators such as nurseries, garden shops, aquarium and pet shops etc. It is prohibited to import, breed or cultivate, sell or otherwise keep any species included on the List of Union or national concern. Companies were allowed to sell invasive alien species which are included on the List of Union or national concern to customers for up to one year from the entry into force of the List. Once the deadlines expire the companies must empty their stocks of any species included on the lists. With regard to species included on the national list, it is possible - by the Government Decree - to specify shorter deadlines than the aforementioned.
The spread of alien species to new geographical areas is intentionally or unintentionally facilitated by human activity. Globalisation, rapidly increasing international trade and transport and new transport connections by sea, land and air have led to the increased spread of alien species.
The trade in animals and garden plants is considered the most important individual factor in both intentional and unintentional introductions of alien species. Also, online commerce has made it easy to order products such as plant seeds or live food for aquarium fish from anywhere in the world.
The migration of alien species from one area to another on means of transport, or in raw materials and equipment has become more common in recent decades. Alien species may migrate with untreated timber or wood packages, in the ballast water of ships or attached to their hulls, in soil, seeds and eggs, or on contaminated surfaces.
Species may also migrate through pathways built by humans: roads, railways, canals, bridges, tunnels or fish passes. Rapid and easy transport between and within continents also contributes to the spreading of alien species.