The government decided on a list of invasive alien species on April 1, according to major media reports. The list includes 34 species, and a new regulation will enter into force on May 15. The species are assessed to pose a clear risk to Swedish land and water environments, multiple reports indicate.
The purpose is to be able to take measures against problematic species that risk establishing and competing, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency wrote in a press release. The agency's announcement provides the context for the regulatory move, though the specific 34 species included on the list have not been disclosed. It remains unclear what specific measures the new regulation will enable against invasive species or how the government assessed the risk posed by these species.
Additionally, whether there are any exceptions or transitional rules in the new regulation, and what the enforcement or penalty mechanisms will be for non-compliance, are not yet known.