Guidance and regulation

Find out which licence you might need to carry out work that affects wildlife and its habitat, how to apply and when you might need to pay.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 25 October 2023

How to apply to import, export or re-export endangered animal and plant species on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) list.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 1 July 2022

List of priority habitats and species in England (‘Section 41 habitats and species’) for public bodies, landowners and funders to use for biodiversity conservation.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 10 November 2022

How to stop the spread and dispose of invasive non-native plants that can harm the environment in England.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 2 others
• Updated: 2 February 2022

How to sell biodiversity units to developers for biodiversity net gain: explore the market, register a gain site and record allocations.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 15 March 2024

When and how you need to register your item or apply for an exemption certificate to deal in ivory.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 26 July 2023

Licences and authorisations to import genetic material, research and diagnostic samples, trade samples and display items, and some live animals and animal products.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 30 April 2024

How a competent authority must decide if a plan or project proposal that affects a European site can go ahead.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 3 others
• Updated: 6 December 2023

Guidance and regulatory advice on how to apply for licences issued under ASPA and how your compliance with ASPA and your licence conditions will be assessed.

• From: Home Office
• Updated: 26 April 2024

The variations effective from 00:01 Wednesday 15 May 2024

• From: Marine Management Organisation
• Updated: 10 May 2024

What you must do to avoid harming great crested newts and when you’ll need a licence.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 18 May 2015

How to assess a planning application when there are protected species on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 25 October 2023

How to dispose of dead wild birds or ask for them to be removed.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 13 December 2022

How to assess a planning application when there are ancient woodland, ancient trees or veteran trees on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Forestry Commission and 1 others
• Updated: 14 January 2022

Check if you need a licence or phytosanitary certificate to export plants and plant products.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 4 April 2024

What you need to do if you keep, grow, find or sell certain invasive plant species and your responsibilities to prevent their spread.

• From: Animal and Plant Health Agency and 1 others
• Updated: 20 September 2022

Information for developers and local planning authorities explaining statutory biodiversity credits, and the process of buying them.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 12 February 2024

How to get a licence to breed dogs, and the conditions you must meet.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 4 November 2020

Find out what to do and how much it costs to register a biodiversity gain site.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 26 April 2024

How to get a licence to sell animals as pets, and the conditions you'll need to meet.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 2 February 2021