Defra has published changes to its guidance on the control of bird species under the so-called "general licence" following some misinterpretation of the new system.

Some landowners and other stakeholders had interpreted new guidance published to coincide with the recent review of the Wildlife and Countryside Act to mean that they would have to try non lethal means of pest control and to demonstrate the fact before resorting to shooting species on the general licence.

This is not the case and was not the intention of the new guidance. It has always been the case under the 1981 Act that the killing of birds on the general licence has only been permitted where there is no other satisfactory solution for specific purposes, for example, preventing damage to crops or protecting public health and safety. That is because of legal obligations under the 1979 EC Birds Directive. In an attempt to clarify this in the new guidance, the impression was given of a change in how the general licences may be used. In order to clear up this misunderstanding the Department has changed, with immediate effect, the wording of paragraph four of the WLF 18, WLF 100085, WLF 100088 general licences to -

"This Licence can only be relied on in circumstances where the authorised person is satisfied that appropriate non-lethal methods of control such as scaring are either ineffective or impracticable."

Nature Conservation Minister, Ben Bradshaw, said:

"I hope that by making this change it is now clear to those who use general licences that there has been no change in how they may deal with pest species. Landowners, gamekeepers and others will continue to be able to shoot species listed on the general licence if they believe that to be the most sensible course of action. "

British Association of Shooting and Conservation, the UK's largest shooting organisation representing 122,000 people said " BASC welcomes this clarification which makes it very plain that lawful pest control can continue".