The European Code of Conduct on Horticulture and Invasive Alien Plants

Ornamental horticulture has been recognized as the main pathway of recent plant invasions in
Europe and worldwide. It is estimated that 80 percent of current invasive alien plants in Europe
were introduced as ornamental or agricultural/forestry plants. The European Union foresees a global
strategy to tackle biological invasions, also taking into account that so far there is little consistency of
approach between countries or regions on the assessment and management of these risks.
The horticulture industry in Europe has brought great benefits, both social and economic, and has
made a vast array of plant diversity available to the public. About 17,000 taxa are grown in gardens and
new introductions are constantly being sought. There are strong incentives to introduce new plants
into horticulture and these are often welcomed by the public, who show a fascination for novelty in
this as in other areas.
The Code of Conduct on Horticulture and Invasive Alien Plants was prepared by Vernon Heywood
and Sarah Brunel as a joint collaboration of the Council of Europe (CoE) and the European
and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). On the basis of this document, EPPO
is developing “Guidelines on the Development of a Code of Conduct on Horticulture and Invasive
Alien Plants” that are directed to national plant protection organizations. General guidelines of the
Code and first country implementations will be presented and discussed in relation to European mean
features of plant invasion processes.