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Nature & Parks

Alien Species

On March 10, the Japanese Cabinet submitted the bill dealing with invasive alien species to the Diet.
The Diet passed the bill without amendments and the Invasive Alien Species Act was promulgated on June 2, 2004.

For the details of the Act, please refer to the following documents:

The Cabinet Decision on the Basic Policy was made on October 15, 2004, finalizing the Basic Policy.

Based on the Invasive Alien Species Act and the Basic Policy, the list of Invasive Alien Species (IAS), Uncategorized Alien Species (UAS) and Living Organisms Required to have a Certificate Attached during their importation in order to verify their types (LORCA) was proposed by academic experts on properties of living organisms. Candidates for IAS were selected from among alien species whose adverse effects or the possibilities are already reported by academic articles in the world. The draft list of IAS, UAS and LORCA was subjected to the domestic public comments while WTO/SPS notification was being made.

The first designation of IAS, UAS and LORCA was finalized on April 27, 2005 and became effective on June 1, 2005.

The second designation of IAS, UAS, and LORCA

The Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries finalized the list of additional set of IAS, UAS and LORCA in the Cabinet Decision on December 14, 2005. This Cabinet Decision became effective on February 1, 2006.

The additional designation of bumblebees and others as IAS

On September 1, 2006, the large earth bumblebees (Bombus terrestris), which are used as pollinators for several kinds of vegetables, were designated as IAS. The import and the use of Bombus terrestris for agricultural purposes are possible with permissions from the Minister of the Environment.
The permission is given on condition that the organisms are kept in appropriate facilities (e.g., a greenhouse with screens on the openings to prevent their escape).
Also designated as IAS on this occasion are the long-armed scarabs belonging to genera Euchirus and Propomacrus. These species had been designated as UAS (Uncategorized Alien Species), and werejudged to have the likelihood of causing adverse effects on Japan's ecosystems. Below is the list of species designated as IAS, UAS and LORCA as of September 1, 2006.

The designation of twig anoles as IAS

As of May 2007, twig anole (anolis angusticeps) is in process of being designated as IAS. This species was originally designated as UAS on June 1, 2005, and the judgment whether or not this species has the likelihood of causing adverse effects on ecosystems is being made by competent ministers. Below is the draft list of species which are to be designated as IAS, UAS and LORCA. The final date for comments on the WTO/SPS notification concerning this designation is July 7, 2007.

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