Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026

13 Code of practice on deer management

(1) The 1996 Act is modified as follows.

(2) In section 5A (code of practice on deer management), in subsection (1), after “management” insert “and the circumstances in which it may intervene in the management or control of deer”.

(3) In section 5B (review of compliance with code of practice on deer management)—

(a) in subsection (1), for “must, before the expiry of the period mentioned in subsection (4),” substitute “may, at any time,”,

(b) after subsection (1), insert—

“(1A) SNH must carry out a review under subsection (1)—

(a) if required to do so by the Scottish Ministers,

(b) within such period as it considers appropriate following a replacement code or revision (other than a minor revision) of the code coming into effect, and

(c) otherwise, not less than once in each review period.”,

(c) after subsection (1A) insert—

“(1B) When carrying out a review under subsection (1), SNH must consult—

(a) persons who have an interest in deer management,

(b) persons with practical experience of deer management.

(1C) SNH must publish—

(a) details of the consultation undertaken under subsection (1B), including any consultation documents or materials,

(b) the results of that consultation, including any views expressed by the persons mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1B).”,

(d) for subsection (4), substitute—

“(4) For the purposes of subsection (1A), “review period” means each period of 10 years beginning with the date on which the Scottish Ministers most recently laid a report before the Scottish Parliament under subsection (3).”.