Please note that new licensing forms for firearm and shotgun certificates and variation forms will come into effect as of 31st December, though licensing departments will continue to accept old forms for the following eight weeks to ensure a smooth transition period to the updated forms.
A Countryside Alliance spokesman said: "A number of stakeholders, including the Countryside Alliance, were involved with drafting these new forms which make a dramatic step forward in terms of simplicity and interpretation. Certificate holders have in the past suffered because of the complicated forms; in an aim to speed up the licensing process this move simplifies the wording thereby reducing confusion and the potential for errors.
"Any effort made by the Home Office to improve the efficiency of the licensing process is to be applauded by the Countryside Alliance, and we look forward to furthering these improvements in 2018."