Decision

Background and other supporting documents

Published 20 May 2025

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gamebirds-decision-to-issue-the-gl43-gamebird-general-licence-for-2025-to-2027/background-and-other-supporting-documents

Background

The release of common pheasants or red-legged partridges into the wild on European sites (special areas of conservation (SACs) and special protection areas (SPAs)) in England, or within 500 metres of their boundary, is only lawful under the authority of a licence.

General licence GL43 first came into force on 31 May 2021 for a period of 12 months. The most recent GL43, which was valid from 31 May 2023, expired on 1 February 2025. In 2023, because of the high national risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) risk level, releases on SPAs in England or within 500 metres of their boundary were no longer regulated under GL43 but under individual licence only and then partly under a more restrictive general licence (GL45) in 2024. Defra’s 2025 HRA and decision to issue GL43 gamebird general licence for 2025 to 2027, sets out the background after the 2023 issue of GL43.

Supporting documents

The following documents have informed Defra’s 2025 Habitats Regulation Assessment and the Secretary of State’s decision to issue the next general licence (GL43) for a duration of two years from the date of issue to 1 Feb 2027, excluding Lundy from its scope.

The HRA includes:

  • Annex A – Natural England’s statutory advice to Defra concerning GL43 – 17 December 2024
  • Annex B – Defra’s 2023 Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) and decision to issue general licence GL43 for 2023 to 2025

It also refers to:

  • Annex C – Natural England’s 2021 shadow HRA Part 2: Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and non-bird Ramsar sites in England
  • Annex D – Natural England’s 2023 addendum to its 2021 shadow HRA

Previous Natural England advice:

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