Joint Circular No. 27/2013/TTLT-BTNMT-BNNPTNT stipulates criteria for determining invasive alien species and promulgates a list of such species.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Regulations on criteria for determining invasive alien species and issuance of the list of invasive alien species

Issuance of the list of invasive alien species

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Pursuant to the Law on Biodiversity dated November 13, 2008;

Pursuant to Decree No. 21/2013/NĐ-CP dated March 4, 2013, promulgated by the Government, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

Pursuant to Decree No. 01/2008/ND-CP dated January 3, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Decree No. 75/2009/ND-CP dated September 10, 2009 of the Government amending Article 3 of Decree No. 01/2008/ND-CP dated January 3, 2008;

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issue this Joint Circular stipulating criteria for determining invasive alien species and issuing the list of invasive alien species.

Article 1. Criteria for determining invasive alien species and alien species with potential to be invasive

1. An invasive alien species meets one of the following criteria:

a) It has established a population in nature, encroaching on habitats, competing for food, and causing harm to native species, with strong dispersal potential; it tends to or is currently causing ecological imbalance where it appears in Vietnam;

b) It shows harmful effects through trials, experiments, surveys, and assessments.

2. Alien species with potential to be invasive:

a) Alien species with potential to be invasive that have appeared in Vietnam meet one of the following criteria: they have not yet established a population in nature but tend to encroach on habitats, compete for food, and cause harm to native species; or they show signs of potential harm through trials, experiments, surveys, and assessments;

b) Alien species with potential to be invasive that have not yet appeared in Vietnam meet the following criteria: they have not been introduced into Vietnam; they have been recorded as invasive in at least two countries with similar ecological conditions to Vietnam.

Article 2. Attached to this Joint Circular

1. List of invasive alien species (Annex 1).

2. List of alien species with potential to be invasive (Annex 2).

Article 3. Amendment and supplementation of the list of invasive alien species and the list of alien species with potential to be invasive

1. Annually, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, other ministries, and provincial People's Committees to conduct investigations to determine invasive alien species and alien species with potential to be invasive.

2. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to review and compile the list of invasive alien species and the list of alien species with potential to be invasive based on the criteria set forth in Article 1 of this Joint Circular.

3. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement the list of invasive alien species and the list of alien species with potential to be invasive based on the results of the review.

Article 4. Implementation provisions

1. This Joint Circular takes effect from November 26, 2013. Circular No. 22/2011/TT-BTNMT dated July 1, 2011 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment stipulating criteria for determining invasive alien species and issuing the list of invasive alien species ceases to be effective from the date this Joint Circular takes effect.

2. During implementation, if there are difficulties, organizations and individuals should report them to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for research and appropriate amendments and supplements.