Defra to issue GL43, but not GL45

Defra has announced to stakeholders that GL43, the 2025 general licence that will regulate the release of common pheasant and red-legged partridge in or within 500m of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), has received ministerial approval and will be published shortly. However, Defra announced at the same time that GL45, the general licence that in 2024 covered gamebird release on and within 500m of 85 Special Protection Areas (SPA), has not received ministerial approval. 

Last year, under the last government, GL45 was introduced when the official risk level for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in wild birds was ‘medium’. When that risk level was reduced to ‘low’ a number of extra SPAs were added to the list to which GL45 originally applied, with a modified licence issued that was valid to 1 February 2025. The reason given for ministers not approving GL45 for 2025 is that “it is not possible to rule out the risk of HPAI (which is currently very high) spreading to the internationally protected birds present on SPAs”. Little in life can ever be “ruled out”, but if this is the approach being undertaken by Minsters then no matter what the risk level of HPAI is, shoots within or near SPAs would be shrewd to not expect GL45 to be published later in the season should the HPAI risk level in wild birds be lowered. 

Those wishing to release gamebirds on or within 500m of an SPA will therefore have to apply for an individual licence from Natural England. Defra will publish further information on individual licensing when available. Defra added on the topic of individual licensing: “given that the decision not to issue GL45 this year has been made due to very high avian influenza risk, applications for individual licences will be assessed on their merits. Applicants should be aware that an individual licence is not guaranteed.” 

GL43 is expected to be published on the Defra website by the end of the first week of April. This it is considerably later than was originally promised, and its delay has caused disruption and uncertainty for a number of shoots, whose contribution to conservation, the rural economy and the countryside community must not be underestimated.  

The Countryside Alliance will continue to engage with the Defra gamebird release licensing team and will bring updates when they are published.