(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations, which apply to Wales, amend Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (“the Act”), which transposes in part Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds (O.J. No. L103, 25.04.1979, p.1).
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (“the 2004 Regulations”) inserted a new section 27ZA in the Act with the effect that the other amendments made by those Regulations applied in relation to England only. By virtue of these Regulations, section 27ZA of the Act ceases to have effect, thereby applying in relation to Wales the amendments made by the 2004 Regulations.
Those amendments, which are set out in the Schedule to these Regulations, include a restriction on the scope of the defences under section 1(3) of the Act, and an extension to the definition of “wild bird” in section 27 of the Act.