§ Lord Fisherasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether arrangements are made under EC Regulation 3626/82 Article 6 to ensure that birds bred in captivity and close ringed cannot have their rings removed under anaesthetic.
§ Lord StrathclydeEC Regulation 3626/82 does not contain any provisions relating to ringing. The only statutory ringing requirements are contained in regulations made under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The Wildlife and Countryside (Ringing of Certain Birds) Regulations 1982 SI 1982 No. 1220 provide for the ringing of birds included in Part I of Schedule 3 to the Act and bred in captivity. The Wildlife and Countryside (Registration and Ringing of Certain Captive Birds) Regulations 1982 SI 1982 No. 1221, as amended by SI 1991 No. 478, provide for the registration and ringing of birds included in Schedule 4 to the Act and which any person keeps or has in his possession or control. There is nothing in these instruments that prevents a close-ring being removed under anaesthetic. However, should a bird which is liable to the ringing requirements of SI 1982 No 1221 need to be kept unringed, this would require a licence under Section 16 of the 1981 Act.