Invasive non-native (alien) species: licence to manage and control them (IAS A02)
Apply for a licence to manage and control certain non-native (alien) species.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This licence applies to these invasive non-native (alien) animal and plant species.
What this licence allows
You must have a licence to do the following with these non-native (alien) animal and plants species:
- keep
- breed
- transport - except when transporting for eradication
- use or exchange
- allow to grow, cultivate or reproduce
- release into the environment
You can only carry out these activities to:
- eradicate
- control
- contain
For non-native (alien) plants only, you can educate the public - for example, in training or to raise public awareness to help identification.
Releasing into the environment
You can only get a licence to release a non-native (alien) animal into the environment in exceptional circumstances. An example would be to release sterilised male signal crayfish to control a signal crayfish population.
Natural England will not issue a licence if you’ve held an animal for rehabilitation purposes.
You must make sure you hold animals securely and prevent them from breeding or escaping into the wild.
Rules for signal crayfish
You must get agreement from the Environment Agency to trap signal crayfish and other non-native crayfish before you apply for this licence.
Species covered by this licence
This licence covers the invasive non-native (alien) animal and plant species of Union concern.
When you do not need a licence
You do not need a licence to carry out general management to eradicate a species, unless this involves any of the activities covered by this licence. For example, you would not need a licence to remove Himalayan balsam within a river catchment.
You do not need a licence to transport a species to eradicate it. For example, you would not need a licence if you’re transporting plant material to a waste facility for disposal.
Activities this licence does not allow
You cannot:
- keep a non-native (alien) species and later sell it
- release a non-native (alien) species held for rehabilitation
- transport a non-native (alien) species to other parts of the UK (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
Other licences for non-native (alien) species
For a licence to move or keep a non-native (alien) animal for welfare purposes, see licence IAS A01.
To keep or release non-native (alien) species not covered by this licence, see other non-native (alien) species licences.
For conservation, research science or medical use, you must get a permit from the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
How to apply
You must complete the:
Save the forms to your desktop before filling them in. Remember to save your forms again when you’ve filled them in.
Email or send both forms to Natural England at the following addresses:
Email: invasive-alien-species-licence@naturalengland.org.uk
Wildlife licensing
Natural England
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH
Telephone: 020 8026 1089 (this number is for Natural England’s Enquiries Service and they will direct your call to the appropriate team.)
Natural England will decide whether to issue a licence within 30 working days of receiving your application.