General licence extension by DEFRA

General licence holders needing to control wild birds will be relieved to learn that DEFRA has reissued the current permits from 1 August to 31 December 2020. The department has confirmed that no action is required by the licence users beyond the ‘ongoing requirement to act in accordance with the licence conditions.’

Which licences are affected?

The licences in question are:

• Carrion crows: licence to kill or take them to prevent serious damage to livestock (GL26)

• Canada geese: licence to kill or take them for public health and safety (GL28)

• Woodpigeons: licence to kill or take them to prevent serious damage to crops (GL31)

• Licence to kill or take wild birds to conserve wild birds and to conserve flora and fauna (GL34)

• Licence to kill or take wild birds to preserve public health or public safety (GL35)

• Licence to kill or take wild birds to prevent serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters (GL36)

New licences

New licences will come into force on 1 January 2021 and details will be published in November 2020 to allow users to get to grips beforehand with planned changes.