Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/red-squirrels-and-pine-martens-licence-to-sell-dead-specimens

Change description : 2026-01-01 00:01:00: Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-01-01 00:25:58.656844636 +00:00..2026-01-01 00:09:39.500922845 +00:00

Statutory guidance

Red squirrels and pine martens: licence to sell dead specimens (GL20)

Get a general licence to sell dead wild red squirrels and pine martens.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

With this general licence you can sell and advertise that you are selling dead wild:

  • red squirrels
  • pine martens

You must provide evidence with each sale to prove that the specimen was legally acquired.

You do not need to apply for this general licence but you must meet its conditions and follow its instructions.

Records you need to keep

As these wild animals are normally protected, you must keep records for 2 years from each sale. For the sale of every animal (or its part or derivative) you need to record:

  • from whom you acquired it
  • to whom you sold it
  • the species, age and cause of death (if known)

By 31 December each year you must send Natural England the details of any dead wild animals you’ve sold in that year that have not previously been sold. You should send the details by email to wildlife@naturalengland.org.uk. You need to state:

  • how you acquired each animal
  • the type and number of each species sold

Updates to this page

Published 31 December 2013

Last updated 1 January 20252026 + show href="#full-history">+ show all updates
    1. Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. Reworded several sections to make the information clearer.

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Update history

2026-01-01 00:01
Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030.

2025-01-01 00:01
Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. Reworded several sections to make the information clearer.

2024-01-01 00:01
There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.

2023-01-01 00:15
Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2023.