2018/0318/UK
EC/EFTA
GB United Kingdom
  • C20A - Agriculture, hunting
2018-10-08
2018-07-11
Spring Traps

The Spring Traps Approval (England) Order 2018

Under the Pests Act 1954, spring traps are prohibited in England unless approved by the government via a Spring Traps Approval Order.

This regulation revokes and replaces the Spring Traps Approval Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/13) which approves types of spring trap for use, allowing them to be sold and used in England, and two subsequent variation Orders, the Spring Traps Approval (Variation) (England) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1427) and the Spring Traps Approval (Variation) (England) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/247).

This regulation adds four types of spring trap to those approved for use in England and adds to the target species against which two of the traps previously approved may be used. This regulation also removes eight types of approved spring trap which have been out of production for some time and are seldom used to trap any permitted target species.

It also removes stoat as a permitted target species for 11 approved traps which do not meet the required humaneness standards set out in the Agreement for International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS). However, we have agreed with stakeholders to delay this removal (as permitted under the Agreement) until 1 April 2020 to give the sector sufficient time to manufacture, supply and deploy new compliant stoat traps.

The 2012 Order was notified and cleared in 2011 (reference Notification: 2011/0441/UK)

The 2015 Order was notified and cleared in 2015 (reference Notification: 2015/0005/UK)

The 2016 Order was notified and cleared in 2015 (reference Notification: 2015/0523/UK)