Wildlife Management Muirburn Scotland Act 2024 Commencement No 3

UK New Legislation

Published July 1st, 2026

Detected March 9th, 2026

Summary

The Scottish Ministers have issued regulations to bring into force key provisions of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024. These regulations, effective July 1, 2026, specifically target the prohibition of glue traps, including their use, supply, and possession, along with associated enforcement powers.

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What changed

These regulations, made by the Scottish Ministers, bring into force specific sections of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024, primarily concerning glue traps. Effective July 1, 2026, the regulations prohibit the use, supply, and possession of glue traps, and establish offences related to these activities. They also commence enforcement provisions, including powers of entry, search, and seizure, and provisions regarding individual culpability within organisations.

Regulated entities, particularly manufacturers, suppliers, and users of glue traps, must cease all prohibited activities by July 1, 2026. Compliance will require the removal of all glue traps from inventory and operations. Failure to comply may result in criminal offences, including obstruction of officers, and potential penalties as outlined in the Act. Enforcement authorities will have increased powers to investigate and seize illegal glue traps.

What to do next

Cease the use, supply, and possession of glue traps by July 1, 2026.
Remove all glue traps from inventory and operations by July 1, 2026.
Ensure all employees are aware of the prohibitions and enforcement powers related to glue traps.

Penalties

Offences related to glue traps, obstruction of officers, and impersonation of officers may lead to criminal penalties as defined in the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.

Source document (simplified)

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Scottish Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 127 (C. 14)

NATURE CONSERVATION

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026

Made

5th March 2026

Laid before the Scottish Parliament

9th March 2026

Coming into force

1st July 2026

The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 35(2) and (3) of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024(1).

Citation, commencement and interpretation

—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 1 July 2026.

(2) In these Regulations, “ the Act ” means the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.

Appointed Day

—(1) 1 July 2026 is the day appointed for the coming into force of the provisions of the Act specified in column 1 of the table in the schedule (the subject matter of which is described in the corresponding entry in column 2 of that table).

(2) Where a purpose is specified in column 3 of the table in the schedule, the corresponding provision in column 1 comes into force in accordance with paragraph (1) only for that purpose.

JIM FAIRLIE

Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers

St Andrew's House,

Edinburgh

5th March 2026

Regulation 2

Schedule Provisions of the Act coming into force on the day appointed

| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Provisions of the Act | Subject Matter | Purpose |
| Section 1 | Offence of using glue trap | |
| Section 2 | Offence of supplying glue trap | |
| Section 3 | Offence of possessing glue trap | |
| Section 4 | Forfeiture and disposal of glue traps | |
| Section 5 | Authorisation for use, supply or possession of glue trap | |
| Section 24 | Powers of entry, search and seizure with warrant | So far as it relates to sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Act |
| Section 25 | Further restrictions on power of entry | |
| Section 26 | Powers of local weights and measures authorities | |
| Section 27 | Offence of obstructing officer of local weights and measures authority | |
| Section 28 | Offence of impersonating officer of a local weights and measures authority | |
| Section 29 | Individual culpability where organisation commits offence | So far as it relates to sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Act |
| Section 30 | Crown application: criminal offences | |
| Section 31 | Crown application: powers of entry | |
| Schedule | Investigatory powers of a local weights and measures authority | |

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The Bill for the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (“ the Act ”) received Royal Assent on 30 April 2024. Sections 35 and 36 of the Act came into force the following day.

These Regulations commence sections 1 to 5 (glue traps) and sections 24 to 31 (enforcement provisions) of the Act on 1 July 2026. Section 24 (powers of entry, search and seizure with warrant) and section 29 (individual culpability where organisation commits and offence) are commenced only so far as they relate to sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Act.

NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT REGULATIONS

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The following provisions of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 have been brought into force by commencement regulations made before the date of these Regulations.

| Provision | Date of Commencement | S.S.I. No. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Section 6 | 25 November 2024 | S.S.I. 2024/267 |
| Section 9 | 22 July 2024 | S.S.I. 2024/168 |
| Section 10 (for limited purposes) | 1 July 2024 | S.S.I. 2024/168 |
| Section 10 (so far as not already in force) | 22 July 2024 | S.S.I. 2024/168 |
| Section 11 | 17 October 2024 | S.S.I. 2024/267 |
| Section 18 | 1 July 2024 | S.S.I. 2024/168 |
| Section 21 | 1 July 2024 | S.S.I. 2024/168 |
| Section 33 | 17 October 2024 | S.S.I. 2024/267 |
| Section 34 | 17 October 2024 | S.S.I. 2024/267 |
(1) 2024 asp 4.