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Statutory guidance

Bats: licence to take and possess live bats for rabies testing (GL25)

Use this general licence to capture and temporarily possess live bats to test for European bat lyssavirus and kill those with the virus.

Updates to this page

From:
Natural England
Published:
16 April 2015
Last updated:
1 January 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030.

  2. Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. Reworded several sections to make the information clearer.

  3. There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.

  4. Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2023.

  5. Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2022.

  6. Annual licence update.

  7. Accessible version of licence added - HTML.

  8. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2020

  9. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2019

  10. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2018

  11. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2017

  12. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2016

  13. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Licence to capture, temporarily hold and kill live bats for the purpose of European bat lyssavirus testing (GL25)

HTML

Details

As an authorised person, you need a licence to capture, possess or transport live bats for the purpose of testing for European bat lyssavirus (EBLV), a type of rabies. You also need a licence to kill any bats with the virus.

You are an authorised person if you’re:

  • a bat worker registered or working with the Bat Conservation Trust
  • an employee of approved quarantine facilities engaged in official business
  • an employee of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) acting under the direction of APHA veterinary inspectors while engaged in official business
  • a member or fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

You do not need to apply for this general licence but you must meet its conditions and follow its instructions.

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