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Statutory guidance

Wild birds and animals: licence to possess samples (GL10)

If you're a laboratory or scientific institution, use this licence to hold tissue samples from wild birds and animals during investigations into offences.

Updates to this page

From:
Natural England
Published:
1 January 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 hold wild bird and animal samples during investigations into offences (GL10)

HTML

Details

This licence lets you hold biological samples (including blood, DNA and other tissue) from birds and wild animals taken as part of an investigation if you’re a laboratory or scientific institution.

You can only hold onto the sample during an investigation into offences under part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

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

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