Application for a licence was made by a specially formed company representing farming and land management interests covering approximately 300km2 and over 70% of the West Gloucestershire pilot area.

Natural England has issued the licence having satisfied itself that the application meets the strict criteria set out in the Government’s bTB policy guidance, which specifies how control operations to prevent the spread of bTB can be carried out.

The licence: (189kb)image expired

Under the terms of the licence, and in accordance with the criteria specified in the bTB control policy, licensees will be authorised to reduce badger populations in the pilot area by at least 70% and maximum numbers will be specified to prevent the risk of local extinction.

Control operations can only commence once Natural England has formally confirmed with the Licensee the specific dates when these operations will take place, the persons authorised to carry them out, confirmation that the necessary funds are in place, and the permitted number of badgers that will be subject to control operations. These formal confirmations are expected to be completed within the next few weeks.

Natural England is continuing to assess a separate licence application relating to the West Somerset pilot area and will look to issue the licence as soon as possible after it is satisfied that the application has met the criteria in the bTB policy guidance.

Licensing criteria

Copies of the Guidance to Natural England - which specifies the criteria Natural England need to take account of in developing and issuing licencesimage expired

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