Forestry Bill and deer shooting in Northern Ireland– latest update

10 March 2010

After BASC lobbying, the Forest Service in Northern Ireland has reduced its ambitions to gain sweeping powers over sporting rights, land entry and deer management through a proposed Forestry Bill. BASC twice submitted evidence to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development and amendments will now be considered by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Game and wildlife law review in Northern Ireland – latest update

9 March 2010

BASC is at the forefront of discussions on the new Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill, which would lead to a complete overhaul of game and wildlife law in Northern Ireland. The bill proposes to scrap the game licence and archaic game laws, extend the open season for hinds and does, but would leave the quarry bird species and their open seasons unchanged.

Should all dogs be micro-chipped and covered by third-party insurance?

9 March 2010

Defra is inviting views on whether all dogs should be micro-chipped and covered by third-party insurance. BASC will focus on the interests of gundog owners when responding to the consultation.

BASC looks out for home loaders and pest controllers on EU laws

17 February 2010

BASC has sought clarity on a number of issues of relevance to UK shooters in response to consultations that affect ammunition and its components for home loading; for the use of scaring cartridges, rockets, rope bangers, mole smokes, flares and signal smoke.

Stakeholders’ views published on a reform of Scottish wildlife law

16 February 2010

The Scottish Government has published an analysis of the 456 consultation responses they received last year on proposals to reform existing wildlife laws. The results show strong support for abolishing the game licence, but not for introducing mandatory testing of deerstalkers.

Animal Welfare Bill - BASC NI advises government on tail docking and snares

16 February 2010

BASC is representing shooters, gundog owners and gamekeepers in pre-legislative scrutiny of a draft Animal Welfare Bill for Northern Ireland. BASC has recommended that the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development provides a tail docking ban exemption for working dogs, and that the use of snares should be covered by wildlife law, not animal welfare law.

Where will you be going wildfowling in 20 to 50 years time?

12 February 2010

The location of mudflats and saltmarsh on some of the best wildfowling sites in England and Wales could be affected by the decisions taken on flood risk management, following a series of consultations taking place on shoreline management plans.

Cost sharing proposals for game rearers have been shelved

12 February 2010

Defra has published a draft animal health bill but cost sharing proposals have been shelved and there are no longer requirements for game rearers to take out insurance. BASC will continue to protect game rearing interests from the threat of any future cost sharing proposals, should they reappear.

Compulsory micro-chipping of dogs proposed for Northern Ireland

1 February 2010

Compulsory micro-chipping and an increase in the dog licence fee are amongst proposals to change dog control legislation in Northern Ireland. BASC believes that these measures would simply add a burden on responsible dog owners, without helping to reduce dog abandonment.

Gamebirds welfare code proposed for Wales

22 January 2010

The Welsh Assembly Government has launched a consultation on a gamebirds welfare code, which ends on 16 April 2010. The code includes three options for the use of cages for pheasants and partridges. In its support for traditional game rearing practices BASC’s position on cages is to seek an end to the use of battery cages for pheasant egg production in the UK.