Published 13 March 2026

Contents

1. Conclusions and recommendations
2. Animal Sentience Committee: views on animals as sentient beings in relation to the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 – GOV.UK

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The Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 (in force 31 July 2024) made it a criminal offence in England for unlicensed operators to set a glue trap for the purposes of catching a rodent or in a way that risks catching a rodent. It is also an offence to knowingly permit an offence to be committed. Only professional rodent controllers, under exceptional and defined circumstances, and under licence, are now permitted to use glue traps.

The act was designed to reduce the prolonged suffering caused by these devices to rodents and non-target wildlife.  In creating this act, the Animal Sentience Committee considers that due regard for animal welfare was properly considered.

The Animal Sentience Committee has been made aware that the sale of these glue traps could not be banned at the time of the act, without coordination across the UK.

There is clear evidence the subsequent sale of glue traps has continued, with the consequence, that both the purchase and use of such a trap may inadvertently be happening.

The committee noted that, in 2024, the Scottish parliament voted unanimously to ban the use, possession and sale of glue traps to the public via its Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act. However, that ban on sale could only come into law with an exemption (or exclusion) from the UK Internal Markets Act.

Following an initial refusal by the UK government in March 2024, an exclusion for glue traps has recently amended Schedule 1 of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, via the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 (Exclusions from Market Access Principles: Glue Traps) Regulations 2025. This paves the way for Scotland to enact the provisions of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Act as they relate to glue traps.  

The Animal Sentience Committee (ASC) has engaged with policy teams and stakeholders regarding the current situation in England and notes the following:

Evidence suggests glue traps remain on sale in England, at retailers and online. There is additional evidence that some glue traps of a size, strength and suggested placement profile suitable for trapping rodents are being rebranded as ‘insect’ traps.

We have been advised that the British Pest Control Association recognises the issue and would like to see glue traps withdrawn from public sale, and made available to licensed operators only through specialised, professional suppliers.

Conclusions and recommendations

The Animal Sentience Committee considers that the original intention of the 2022 Act – to achieve due regard for the welfare of affected animals – would be better achieved via a coordinated sale ban applied across the UK.

Further, the Animal Sentience Committee considers that the continued sale of glue traps has the effect of, placing people at significant risk of breaking the law by using them in a way that would be contrary to the 2022 Act.

In light of the recent change in the United Kingdom Internal Market act, the Animal Sentience Committee recommends that, for government to achieve due regard to the welfare of affected animals, consideration is given to the even application of a ban on the sale of glue traps capable of rodent capture across the UK.