2026 No. 127 (C. 14)
NATURE CONSERVATION

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026

Made
Laid before the Scottish Parliament
Coming into force
The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 35(2) and (3) of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 20241.

Citation, commencement and interpretation1.

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 1 July 2026.

(2)

In these Regulations, “the Act” means the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.

Appointed Day2.

(1)

1 July 2026 is the day appointed for the coming into force of the provisions of the Act specified in column 1 of the table in the schedule (the subject matter of which is described in the corresponding entry in column 2 of that table).

(2)

Where a purpose is specified in column 3 of the table in the schedule, the corresponding provision in column 1 comes into force in accordance with paragraph (1) only for that purpose.

JIM FAIRLIE
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers

St Andrew's House,

Edinburgh

ScheduleProvisions of the Act coming into force on the day appointed

Regulation 2

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions of the Act

Subject Matter

Purpose

Section 1

Offence of using glue trap

Section 2

Offence of supplying glue trap

Section 3

Offence of possessing glue trap

Section 4

Forfeiture and disposal of glue traps

Section 5

Authorisation for use, supply or possession of glue trap

Section 24

Powers of entry, search and seizure with warrant

So far as it relates to sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Act

Section 25

Further restrictions on power of entry

Section 26

Powers of local weights and measures authorities

Section 27

Offence of obstructing officer of local weights and measures authority

Section 28

Offence of impersonating officer of a local weights and measures authority

Section 29

Individual culpability where organisation commits offence

So far as it relates to sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Act

Section 30

Crown application: criminal offences

Section 31

Crown application: powers of entry

Schedule

Investigatory powers of a local weights and measures authority

Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The Bill for the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (“the Act”) received Royal Assent on 30 April 2024. Sections 35 and 36 of the Act came into force the following day.

These Regulations commence sections 1 to 5 (glue traps) and sections 24 to 31 (enforcement provisions) of the Act on 1 July 2026. Section 24 (powers of entry, search and seizure with warrant) and section 29 (individual culpability where organisation commits and offence) are commenced only so far as they relate to sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Act.

NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT REGULATIONS
(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The following provisions of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 have been brought into force by commencement regulations made before the date of these Regulations.

Provision

Date of Commencement

S.S.I. No.

Section 6

25 November 2024

S.S.I. 2024/267

Section 9

22 July 2024

S.S.I. 2024/168

Section 10 (for limited purposes)

1 July 2024

S.S.I. 2024/168

Section 10 (so far as not already in force)

22 July 2024

S.S.I. 2024/168

Section 11

17 October 2024

S.S.I. 2024/267

Section 18

1 July 2024

S.S.I. 2024/168

Section 21

1 July 2024

S.S.I. 2024/168

Section 33

17 October 2024

S.S.I. 2024/267

Section 34

17 October 2024

S.S.I. 2024/267