Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016

79 Review of compliance with code of practice on deer management

(1) The Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 5A (code of practice on deer management) insert—

“5B Review of compliance with code of practice on deer management

(1) SNH must, before the expiry of the period mentioned in subsection (4), carry out a review into the extent to which the code of practice on deer management—

(a) is being complied with by owners and occupiers of land, and

(b) is effective in promoting sustainable deer management.

(2) SNH must, following a review under subsection (1), submit a report to the Scottish Ministers—

(a) setting out SNH’s views on the extent to which the code—

(i) has been complied with, and

(ii) has been effective in promoting sustainable deer management,

(b) including such recommendations as SNH consider appropriate.

(3) The Scottish Ministers must lay before the Scottish Parliament a report submitted to them under subsection (2).

(4) The period referred to in subsection (1) is—

(a) the period of 3 years beginning with the day on which section 79 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 comes into force,

(b) each subsequent period of 3 years beginning with the day on which the Scottish Ministers lay, under subsection (3), the report submitted to them under subsection (2).”.