Citation, commencement and application

1.  This Order—

(a)may be cited as the Spring Traps Approval (Variation) (England) Order 2009;

(b)comes into force on 1st October 2009; and

(c)applies in relation to England only(3).

Variation of the Spring Traps Approval Order 1995

2.  Part 2 (England) of the Schedule to the Spring Traps Approval Order 1995(4) is varied as follows—

(a)in the entry for the DOC 200 trap, in Column (2) (conditions), after “grey squirrels,” insert “mink,”;

(b)in the entry for the DOC 250 trap, in Column (2), after “grey squirrels,” insert “mink, rabbits,”;

(c)after the entry for the Nooski trap, insert the following two entries—

(d)after the entry for the Solway Spring Trap Mk 6, insert the following two entries—

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order varies the Spring Traps Approval Order 1995 (“the 1995 Order”) in relation to England only.

Under section 8 of the Pests Act 1954 (c. 68), it is an offence to use or knowingly to permit the use of any spring trap, other than a trap that has been approved by Order, for animals or in circumstances for which it is not approved. The 1995 Order approves types of spring trap for use in England and Wales, or (in some cases) for use in England only.

This Order adds four types of spring trap to those approved for use in England: the Nooski mouse trap, the Skinns Superior Squirrel Trap, the WCS Collarum and the WCS Tube Trap (article 2(c) and (d)). It also adds to the target species against which two of the traps previously approved (for use in England) may be used: the DOC 200 trap may now also be used for mink (article 2(a)), and the DOC 250 trap may now also be used for mink and rabbits (article 2(b)).

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business or the voluntary sector.