Luxembourg's authorities announced that the hunting season may continue as long as participants adhere to the COVID-19-related restrictions currently in place.

The introduction at the end of October of new measures to combat coronavirus in Luxembourg will impact the organisation of driven hunts (battues), which must comply with all the provisions of the COVID-19 leglislation.

Since driven hunts normally bring together more than ten people and are legally considered as a "gathering", a maximum of 100 people are authorised to participate in a hunting party. As is the case for any gathering of between ten and 100 people, this is subject to the triple condition that participants wear a mask and are assigned seating positions with an interpersonal distance of at least two metres. Wearing a mask is also mandatory at all times for supervisory staff.

In addition, the new legislation prohibits the provision of food and drinks during gatherings. As such, the traditional hunting lunches and dinners are not authorised to take place this year. However, if the organiser of a hunt wishes to offer a meal to participants, he / she must contact a professional caterer which will ensure that the sanitary measures are respected (eating whilst seated, max. four people at a table, etc.). 

The authorities added that the names and contact details of participants may be recorded for health purposes on a voluntary basis and the data should not be kept for more than fourteen days (maximum incubation period of coronavirus).

The authorities also recalled that these rules may change again in the coming months.