Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill

Key Points

• Primary aim: prohibit importing hunting trophies into Great Britain; the covered species list, and thus the scope, would be fixed in statute rather than altered by regulations (per Commons Report Stage amendment).
• Advisory Board on Hunting Trophies would be established to advise the Secretary of State on implementation and effectiveness.
• A range of definitional and scope ideas were debated (eg what counts as a hunting trophy, whether fish or birds are included, and potential exemptions), but many were withdrawn or not moved, keeping the core ban relatively narrow.
• Several safeguards and exemptions were debated but not adopted in the final stages of the Commons—such as conservation-linked exemptions, export/import permits, a sunset clause, or a blanket ban on certain hunting practices (eg canned hunting).
• Regulatory oversight issues were discussed (eg impact assessments, guidance for customs officers, and potential licensing through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee), but these remain to be resolved as the bill moves through the Lords.

Progress

The bill began in the Commons, where two key amendments were agreed (fixing the species list in law and establishing an Advisory Board). It has since moved to the Lords and is currently at Committee Stage, with ongoing parliamentary scrutiny in that house.