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Wildlife and Countryside Act Licences

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Ban on shooting White-fronted Geese

A consultation on proposals to ban shooting White-fronted Geese to protect an endangered species.



General Licences are used for low risk conservation or protected species activities.

We have reviewed General Licences in Wales to reduce bureaucracy. They should allow people to carry out most protected species activities without needing a personal licence.

If there is no General Licence for your activity, you will need to apply for a personal licence.

Using a General Licence

If you plan to use a General Licence, you must:

  • be eligible to do so (each licence has its own conditions. People who have been convicted of wildlife crimes after 01 January 2008 cannot use general licences);
  • act within the Licence conditions and the law.

It is your responsibility to read the licence conditions and comply with them. However, you do not need to carry a paper copy of the Licence.

Some General Licences require yearly reporting of the actions you carry out. The reporting forms will be available on the same page as the related licence.

What activities can you carry out under General Licence and for which species?

General Licences are issued for a range of activities. Licences and examples of when they may be used are available below.

Current licences (valid from 01 January 2013)

Most General Licences are valid from 1 January until 31 December each year. When licences are renewed there may be changes to the terms and conditions or accompanying advice. You should read the latest version of any licence before you use it for the first time each year.

The current licences are available individually below.

General Licences - Guidance on Unique References for Cage Traps

13/03/13
The general licences for 2013 that permit the use of cage traps strongly recommend that people using this licence obtain a unique number to be displayed on the cage trap from the local wildlife crime officer.
 

Personal licence

28/12/12
If there is no General Licence for your activity, you will need to apply for a personal licence.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 001

28/12/12
This licence is for preventing serious damage to agriculture and fisheries and preventing spread of disease.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 002

28/12/12
This licence is for preserving Public Health and Safety.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 003

28/12/12
This licence is for preserving Air Safety.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 004

28/12/12
This licence is for conserving wild birds.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 005

28/12/12
This licence permits the killing of ruddy ducks.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 006

28/12/12
This licence allows the removal of eggs from abandoned nestboxes.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 007

28/12/12
This licence covers the rehabilitation periods of Schedule 4 Birds without registration.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 008

28/12/12
This licence permits the taking of eggs of Anas Platyrhynchos (Mallard Duck).
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 009

28/12/12
This licence allows the release of wild bred barn owls.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 010

28/12/12
This licence permits the sale of live birds.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 011

28/12/12
This licence allows the sale of certain captive bred native species of bird.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 012

28/12/12
This licence permits the sale of Mealy Redpoll.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 013

28/12/12
This licence allows the sale of dead birds.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 014

28/12/12
This licence permits the showing of birds.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 015

28/12/12
This licence allows the showing of Mealy Redpoll.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 016

28/12/12
This licence is needed to incubate eggs and chicks from Schedule 4 birds without registration.
 

Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence (WCAL) 017

28/12/12
This licence permits laboratories to retain blood samples. It also allows authorised people to hold material that would otherwise be illegal while offences are investigated.