The NVWA has found alligator weed at an importer of large Phoenix palms. The palms originated from China and were intended to be planted outdoors in Southern Europe. There, alligator weed can survive the winter and cause serious damage to nature. This discovery again confirms that importers must be extra vigilant about invasive exotic species when importing from China.
The NVWA, in cooperation with Naktuinbouw, inspected 20 companies for the introduction of invasive exotic species. These companies import plants with growing medium. Special attention was given to hitchhiking ants, land flatworms, and plants listed on the Union List (EU Regulation 1143/2014).
Plant species on the Union List can unintentionally enter the Netherlands as weeds in potted plants. During inspections, four different plant species were found in pseudobonsai plants. At an importer of large Phoenix palms, alligator weed was found in the root ball of Phoenix palms. Alligator weed has never before been found in plants intended to be planted outdoors in the ground.
What is the Union List?
The Union List includes species that can harm biodiversity in the European Union (EU). They can also have adverse effects on human health, safety, or the economy. A species on the Union List may not be traded, cultivated, transported, or imported within the EU. The NVWA monitors trade in species on the Union List.
4 plant species found
During inspections of the 20 companies, 4 plant species from the Union List were found:
- Alternanthera philoxeroides (alligator weed)
- Broussonetia papyrifera (paper mulberry)
- Humulus scandens (Japanese hop)
- Lygodium japonicum (Japanese climbing fern)
All these plant species originated from China. Alligator weed was found not only in large Phoenix palms but also in pseudobonsai plants. The other 3 species were only found in pseudobonsai plants. All 4 species pose a threat to nature in some European countries.
Alligator weed poses a great danger
The most concerning discovery is alligator weed in large Phoenix palms. Alligator weed is also found in pseudobonsai, but the big difference is that Phoenix palms are shipped directly to Southern Europe and planted outdoors in the ground. The combination of outdoor planting and Southern Europe is very dangerous. Alligator weed can survive the winter there, unlike in the Netherlands.
Alligator weed can form dense mats in shallow, slow-moving water. This reduces oxygen levels in the water, causing a decline in native flora and fauna and hindering recreation. The plant can also establish itself in irrigated rice fields, a common form of agriculture in Southern Europe.
At the importer of the Phoenix palms, all plants containing alligator weed were immediately destroyed. Later this year, the NVWA will conduct a follow-up inspection.
Be vigilant with imports from China
These findings once again emphasize the importance of hygiene at production sites in China. What is not present does not need to be removed.
If you, as an importer, find perennial species from the Union List, you must destroy the pots (under supervision of the NVWA or an inspector from Naktuinbouw).
If you find annual species from the Union List, you must clean the pots. After 6 weeks, the NVWA will conduct an inspection. If the pots are free of Union List species, you may still sell them.
More information about plant imports can be found on the NVWA website. More information about invasive exotic species is also available on this website and on the Q-Bank website.
More information
Consumers and companies can contact our Customer Contact Center. For questions about this news release, journalists can contact our press officers.
