Written question asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Henley (Conservative) on Thursday, 28 October 2010.

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will add further species, including owls, to Schedule 4 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which restricts the sale of certain animals.

Answer: Section 7 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 requires birds listed on Schedule 4 to the Act to be registered and marked if kept in captivity. It is not a sales control. Following public consultation in 2006, Schedule 4 to the Act was amended with changes coming into effect on 1 October 2008. The number of bird species on this schedule was reduced from 59 to nine. Of the original 59 bird species on Schedule 4, none was owls. Owls were not included on Schedule 4 because their conservation status was not considered at risk from unlawful taking from the wild and there would therefore be little benefit in registering owls held in captivity. There are no plans to review Schedule 4 in the immediate future but the policy in relation to this schedule will be subject to the usual five year review in 2013.

Secondary information