News and current issues
29 August 2006 - Proposals to improve wild deer management announced
A new consultation on deer legislation has been launched which closes 24 October 2006. Deer populations are increasing, the proposed changes to the law are aimed at improving prevention of damage.
6 April 2006 - General licences and Avian Influenza
Defra issues 2 types of licences to allow the control of wild birds for specific purposes such as preserving public health and safety or preventing the spread of disease. Individual licences are issued by the National Wildlife Management Team of the Rural Development Service and are carefully considered on a case by case basis. General licences are issued to cover situations where any “authorised” person would find applying for an individual licence an overly burdensome and bureaucratic task to permit an action that would be routinely approved.
Licences can only be issued provided that, as regards the purpose
of the licence, there is no other satisfactory solution. Given the minimal
public health risk involved at this time, and the advice already available on
measures that can be taken to separate kept birds from wild birds, the use of
individual or general licences is not considered appropriate in relation to AI.
This means that the current General Licences
WLF18 (for the purpose of
preventing the spread of disease)
[57KB],
WLF100087 (for the
purpose of conserving wild birds)
[55KB] and
WLF100088 (for the
purpose of preserving public health and safety)
[54KB] cannot be used in relation to AI.
Please see
further guidance regarding
kept
birds.
27 July 2005 - Defra
publishes report on Rodent infestations in domestic properties in England,
arising from the 2001 English House Condition Survey.
(158 KB, 26 pages)
19 July 2005 -
Defra releases public
consultation responses to the review of England's badger licensing
procedures (173 KB, 25 pages)
15 July 2005 -
Defra response to League Against Cruel
Sports postcard campaign on snares
(16 KB)
09 June 2005 - EPS Licensing – Defra issues a letter announcing transfer of the operational and delivery functions of Defra’s EPS licensing remit to the RDS National Wildlife Management Team from the 1st July 2005.
09 March 2005 - General Licences Defra issue a press release further clarifying the use of non lethal measures in relation to General Licences.
10 February 2005 - General Licences Defra announces changes to the general licences from 1 March 2005, including removal of starlings and house sparrow.
16 September 2004 -
Controlling the cormorant population from
damaging fish stocks
Defra announced new measures to help control the
cormorant population which has grown significantly and whose feeding habits are
damaging fish stocks and recreational fishing activities.
29 June 2004 - Review of Badger Licensing
Procedures for England - analysis of public consultation responses
delayed.
Unforeseen demands on resources have resulted in a delay
of the review process, which is now due to be completed later this summer. An
explanation for the delays can be found at:
www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/cm040422/text/40422w02.htm
under the Parliamentary Questions heading. The review documents can be accessed
via: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/badger-licensing/index.htm.
23 April 2004 - Consultation: Review of the general licences to kill or take certain species of birds under Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
20 Feb 2004 - New guidance heralds start of 'Save the House Sparrow' initiative
17 February 2004 - Consultation: Review of Part 1 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: amendments to Sections 1(3) and 27(1) - definition of "wild bird"
19 Jan 2004 - Consultation: sustainable management of wild deer in England
1 Dec 2003- Wild bird numbers stabilise after 20 years' decline
13 Nov 2003 - Consultation: Review of Badger Licensing Procedures for England
4 Nov 2003 - Ben Bradshaw announces suspension of badger culling in reactive areas of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial
3 Nov 2003 - Defra grants licence to bring Great Bustards back tp Salisbury Plain
17 Sept 2003 - Strychnine hydrochloride supplies update
12 Sept 2003 - Consultation: Snares and Traps - The Way Forward
21 Aug 2003 - Consultation: Renewal of the Mink Keeping (England) Order
1 Aug 2003 - Are wild animals covered by the new rules on burial and burning of animal carcasses?
17 July 2003 - Tracking Mammals Partnership initiative launched
1 Dec 2003- Wild bird numbers stabilise after 20 years' decline
13 Nov 2003 - Consultation: Review of Badger Licensing Procedures for England
4 Nov 2003 - Ben Bradshaw announces suspension of badger culling in reactive areas of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial
3 Nov 2003 - Defra grants licence to bring Great Bustards back tp Salisbury Plain
17 Sept 2003 - Strychnine hydrochloride supplies update
12 Sept 2003 - Consultation: Snares and Traps - The Way Forward
21 Aug 2003 - Consultation: Renewal of the Mink Keeping (England) Order
1 Aug 2003 - Are wild animals covered by the new rules on burial and burning of animal carcasses?
17 July 2003 - Tracking Mammals Partnership initiative launched
12 May 2003 - Launch of the cormorant information web site
13 March 2003 - Advice on avian influenza outbreak in Netherlands.
6 March 2003 - Saltdean badgers forum papers published on this site.
4 March 2003 - Strychnine hydrochloride shortage
28 February 2003 - Ministerial statement on ruddy duck control in the United Kingdom, and research findings of ruddy duck control trial.
19 February 2003 - Defra statement - Saltdean badgers
28 November 2002 - Badgers in Saltdean
27 November 2002 - All licences for edible dormice are now administered by the National Wildlife Management Team (click here for details). This includes licences to cage trap dormice in residential and industrial property.
27 November 2002 - Seals and Phocine Distemper Virus (PDV)
19 November 2002 - Bat rabies Q & A
Page last modified: 6 April 2006