LICENSING
From January 2025, an update was provided to some of the general and class licences within England and Scotland for birds and Glis glis.
There are currently no changes to licensing in Wales and BPCA are awaiting information regarding whether there are any changes in Northern Ireland.
It's important you read and understand the following changes, so that you can remain compliant. Don't forget to log what you've learned as unstructured CPD.
England
The following updates have been provided by Natural England:
CL03 Birds: licence to catch them on food premises - this has been reworded in several sections to make the information clearer, including the sections on 'Definitions used in this licence', 'Registering to use this licence' and 'Recording and reporting requirements'.
We’ve also had the following species added as part of our licensing conditions:
- Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
- Magpie (Pica pica)
- Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus).
Section 25 was updated to ensure that Natural England must be notified, within 5 working days, if you find any of the following at the licensed site:
- One or more dead owls or birds of prey, such as sparrowhawk or kestrel
- Three or more dead birds of any species.
You do not need to report dead birds that have died due to another known or likely cause (other than avian influenza, also known as bird flu), such as legal shooting, road traffic accident or other trauma, natural predation or severe weather incident.
CL12 Birds: licence to kill or take them for air safety purposes - This licence was reworded in several sections to make the information clearer, including the section on 'Registering to use this licence' and licence condition 13a.
Updated licence condition 14, the 'Avian influenza' information and advice note, and the definition of a 'Registered Person'. Additional information added to licence note a.
Bird flu guidance
An updated guidance has been provided with regards to the Avian Influenza (bird flu) situation. The excerpt is below:
Avian influenza (bird flu) is a notifiable animal disease and if you suspect any type of avian influenza in poultry or captive birds you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301.
"If you suspect that wild birds are affected, you should use the new online reporting system or call the Defra helpline (03459 335 577). You should refer to the latest advice on Avian influenza (bird flu) that includes further information about when dead wild birds should be reported.
Glis glis
Edible Dormouse (Glis glis) CL02 received several amendments to make the information clearer, including the sections on 'Registering to use this licence', 'Recording and reporting requirements' and 'Annex A'.
Scotland
NatureScot are the body in charge of issuing licences in Scotland.
There is one change under General Licences 02 (To kill or take certain birds for the prevention of serious damage) and 03 (To kill or take certain birds for the preservation of public health, public safety and preventing the spread of disease).
This change applies to an additional control method specific to Feral pigeons (Columba livia), when shooting at night with the aid of any device for illuminating a target or any device for night shooting.
More information
If you have any further questions, get in touch with our technical team at technical@bpca.org.uk