EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which apply in relation to Wales, are made under the Infrastructure Act 2015 (c.7) (“the 2015 Act”).

Regulation 2 brings Part 4 of the 2015 Act (environmental control of animal and plant species), namely sections 23, 24 and 25, into force on 12 April 2015 in relation to Wales.

Section 23 of the 2015 Act inserts a new subsection 14(4A) into the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c.69) (“the 1981 Act”) providing for measures relating to species control agreements and species control orders to be contained in a new Schedule 9A to that Act.

Section 24 of the 2015 Act amends Part I of Schedule 9 to the 1981 Act so that it is divided into three distinct Parts.

Section 25 of the 2015 Act makes consequential changes to the 1981 Act.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations.