These requirements apply only to the UK. However a similar system of registration applies throughout the EU. A system similar to Article 10 Certifications occurs in all CITES Convention signatory countries (most of the world). If anybody cares to write a similar definitive guide to licensing & documentation (including licences/permissions for taking hawks from the wild), please e-mail us the info. or the URL, plus a button of your country's flag, and we will be happy to included it.

There is no licensing requirement for Falconry. There is no such thing as a Falconry licence in the UK(over the years we have come across several people who claimed there was, or claimed to have one - they were lying). There are, however, several points of law whith which you may need to comply.

Article 10 Certification

This controls commercial activity with the bird. An Article 10 Certificate MUST have been issued for the bird in order for it to be bought, sold, displayed/flown or bred for commercial purposes. You are BREAKING THE LAW if you sell, offer for sale or buy including barter a relevant bird without this certificate having been issued! There are two types:

• A BREEDE'RS certificate is valid for the life of the bird
• An INDIVIDUAL certificate is valid for one transaction only

The vendor of the bird is NOT required to pass the certificate to you, but you are advised to note its number if he does not. If you sell a bird, you are NOT required to pass the certificate on, but should do so unless, for some reason, you do not wish the vendor to sell the bird on to anyone but yourself. (In this instance a Breeders Certificate is still valid). If you do you are advised to note its number or make a copy. An Article 10 Certificate is NOT required for the possession of a bird, to give it away or to accept it as a gift. Article 10 certificates are yellow with an embossed DEFRA stamp. An Article 10 Certificate is required wherever you see either of these icons on the bird selection page:

Registration

Certain birds must be registered with DEFRA. There is a fee. The bird breeder/vendor will provide the relevant paperwork.

Those birds pertinent to falconry are:

• Golden Eagle
• Goshawk
• Peregrine (Peale's, Siberian, Black Shahin)
• Merlin
• Hobby
• Barbary Falcon (Red-naped Shahin)
• Gyr Falcon (Jerfalcon)

or any hybrid thereof

Registration is required wherever you see the following icon:

Game Licences & Close Season

Certain types of quarry require a Game Licence(from the POST OFFICE) and/or are subjecct to a Close Season. When browsing the Bird Selection Guide use Tool Tips on the quarry icon to determine its status.

Traditional Quarry Licences & Close Season

Certain types of quarry require a Traditional Quarry Licence and are subjecct to a Close Season. These should be applied for from DEFRA. When browsing the Bird Selection Guide use Tool Tips on the quarry icon to determine its status.

You can find out more about these matters on www.defra.gov.uk