Citation, commencement and interpretation
1.—(1) This Order may be cited as The Spring Traps Approval Order (Northern Ireland) 2012, and shall come into operation on 12th March 2012.
Approval of spring traps
2.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) the following spring traps are approved for the purposes of Article 12A(3) of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985—
(a)any spring trap of a type and make specified in column 1 of Schedule 1; and
(b)any spring trap which is equivalent in all relevant respects to a spring trap of a type and make specified in column 1 of Schedule 1.
(2) Paragraph (1) is subject in all cases to the following conditions—
(a)the spring trap must be used in accordance with the instructions (if any) provided by the manufacturer,
(b)the trap must be used in a manner that minimises the likelihood of its killing, taking or injuring non-target species, whilst not compromising the purpose for which it is being used, and
(c)the spring traps specified in column 1 of Schedule 1 and any equivalent spring traps are subject to the conditions specified in column 2 of Schedule 1.
(3) For the purposes of this Order, a spring trap is equivalent in all relevant respects to a spring trap of a type and make specified in Schedule 1 if it corresponds to the spring trap so specified in construction, in materials, in impact force or momentum, and in all other respects which are relevant to its effect or manner of operation as a trap and “equivalent spring trap” shall be construed accordingly.
Traps for small ground vermin
3. The traps referred to in Schedule 2 are, for the purpose of Article 12A(2) of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, specified as being adapted solely for the destruction of rats, mice or other small ground vermin.
Revocation
4. The Spring Traps Approval Order (Northern Ireland) 1996(1) is revoked.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of the Environment on 31st January 2012.
Graham Seymour
A senior officer of the Department of the Environment