Early day motion · EDM 2728 · 2 Feb 2026

Bird gathering licences

Tabled by Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat) 18 signatures

The motion

That this House is concerned by the unannounced changes introduced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in December 2025 to Bird Gathering Licences; regrets that these amendments prohibit sales and exchanges at licensed bird events, prevent Psittaciformes from being exhibited alongside canaries and finches, and require licences to be approved no more than seven days before a show; recognises that these measures were introduced without consultation with avicultural organisations, despite long-established biosecurity practices, record-keeping, and veterinary oversight at events such as those run by the Solway Parrot and Foreign Bird Club in Cumbria and similar groups nationwide; and calls on the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to review these measures, publish evidence-based risk assessments, and consult avicultural groups.