The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedule 2) (England) Order 2020

Statutory Instruments

2020 No. 245

Wildlife, England

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedule 2) (England) Order 2020

Made

9th March 2020

Laid before Parliament

10th March 2020

Coming into force in accordance with article 1

The Secretary of State makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 22(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981(1) (“the Act”).

For the purposes of section 26(4)(a) of the Act the Secretary of State considers that no local authority is affected by this Order.

The Secretary of State has, in accordance with section 26(4)(a) of the Act, given any other person affected an opportunity to submit objections or representations with respect to the subject matter of this Order. The Secretary of State has also, in accordance with section 26(4)(b) of the Act, consulted with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, being the advisory body(2) which the Secretary of State considers is best able to advise as to whether this Order should be made.

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedule 2) (England) Order 2020 and comes into force 21 days after the day on which it is laid.

(2) This Order extends to England and Wales.

Variation of Schedule 2

2.  In Schedule 2 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (birds which may be killed or taken), in Part I (outside the close season)—

(a) in column 1, after “Goose, White-fronted (in England and Wales only)” insert “, except, in England, Greenland White-fronted Goose”;

(b) in column 2, after “Anser albifrons” insert “except, in England, Anser albifrons flavirostris”.

Rebecca Pow

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

9th March 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends Part I of Schedule 2 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c. 69), which lists birds that may be killed or taken outside the close season, meaning to do so would not be an offence under section 1 of that Act. The list currently includes the White-fronted Goose (in England and Wales only).

Article 2 excludes the Greenland White-fronted Goose from Part I of Schedule 2 in England, meaning that this sub-species can no longer be killed or taken outside the close season.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

(1)

1981 c.69; section 22(1) was amended by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c.16), section 47(1) and (5).

(2)

See the definition of “advisory body” in section 23(3) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.