Biosecurity, Invasive Species and the Law

This chapter discusses an important driver of biodiversity loss – namely invasive alien species (IAS). The regulation of international trade is a key issue for biosecurity since international trade is one of the principal drivers for the movement of species, diseases and pathogens. Measures which might be used to protect against the arrival or spread of such things might, in practice, have the result of restricting trade. International governance of biosecurity reflects in most cases the traditional sectoral divisions seen historically and at the domestic level. Separate international standard-setting bodies are accordingly found for animal health, plant health and food safety. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the most broadly applicable of the relevant instruments of international environmental law, providing an important basis in binding treaty obligations. As noted by Shine, the CBD 'is the only globally applicable, legally binding instrument to address generally alien species introduction, control and eradication across all biological taxa and ecosystems'.