Natural Resources Wales to issue new General Licences

From Monday 7 October, NRW will issue new general licences. This change comes about, where after taking legal advice, NRW have concluded that some of the General Licences were not lawful. NRW have subsequently reviewed the evidence base on which some of the General Licences are issued, and the conditions within them, and talked to stakeholders about the changes that might be needed. As a result, one General Licence will be withdrawn completely, and four others will be replaced.

NRW will make the following changes to the species covered by the new General Licences, where it was not felt that the evidence to retain them on the General Licence approach was strong enough:

GL001 – Prevent serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables or fruit or to prevent the spread of disease to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables or fruit. This will not now include rook, jay or collared dove. NRW have also revised the purpose of this General Licence so as to be for the spread of disease to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables or fruit.

GL002 – Preserving public health and preventing the spread of disease. This will not now include carrion crow, magpie, jackdaw, rook, jay, collared dove or wood pigeon.

iii. GL004 – Conservation of wild birds. This will not now include rook, feral pigeon or Canada goose.

For further information, visit the Natural Resources Wales licensing webpage for more information and advice.