This Order, which is made for the purposes of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1972, section 19, specifies warfarin and the soluble salts of warfarin as poisons for use for the purpose of destroying grey squirrels and specifies the manner of their use. To the extent that it relates to the use of those poisons inside a building, the order applies throughout England and Wales: as respects the use of those poisons elsewhere than inside a building, the order applies only to specified parts of England and Wales.
The said section 19 provides a defence in proceedings for an offence against section 8(b) of the Protection of Animals Act 1911 (c. 27) (which restricts the placing on land of poison and poisoned substances) and so much of section 5(1)(a) of the Protection of Birds Act 1954 (c. 30) as relates to poisoned or poisonous substances if it can be shown that the act alleged to constitute the offence was done for the purpose of destroying grey squirrels and that the poison used and the manner of its use were in compliance with the provisions of this order.