Decision

Gamebirds: decision to not issue the GL45 gamebird general licence for 2025

How Defra arrived at its decision to not issue the GL45 gamebird release general licence for 2025.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 27 June 2025

Applies to England

Documents

Defra’s decision regarding licences to release common pheasant or red-legged partridge on special protection areas (SPAs) or within 500m of their boundary in 2025

PDF, 132 KB, 4 pages

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Defra’s draft 2025 Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)

PDF, 2.15 MB, 113 pages

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UK Chief Veterinary Officer advice: risk assessment work on gamebirds and high pathogenicity avian influenza

PDF, 693 KB, 4 pages

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Natural England’s statutory advice to Defra concerning GL45 – 13 February 2025

PDF, 217 KB, 4 pages

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Details

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) have decided to not issue General licence GL45 for release of gamebirds on or within 500 metres of a SPA in 2025.

Ministers considered that on the basis of all available evidence and advice, it is currently not possible to rule out the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) spreading to the bird features present on special protection areas (SPAs). To release gamebirds on or within 500 metres of a SPA, you will need an individual licence.

These documents explain how ministers considered the evidence and came to the decision to not issue GL45 for 2025.

Published 27 June 2025