Game Dealers License

[VSS]

Agreed. Just ordered another role of BDS carcass tags. Not the all copper ones though!

K

Thanks for the reminder - I need to order some too! Even though the deer are only going into my own larder, they still need tagging and noting in my cull record, and the number on the tag then gets printed on the label of each pack of meat from that animal.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Thanks for the reminder - I need to order some too! Even though the deer are only going into my own larder, they still need tagging and noting in my cull record, and the number on the tag then gets printed on the label of each pack of meat from that animal.

It’s all about a professionally presented product. When I give away a haunch I like to present it wrapped in muslin stockinette which adds cost but makes me feel better.

K

 

[Ratel]

That's all fine until someone gets pulled up over it. Or someone gets ill.
The game dealer must be fiddling his records, whatever. If he has an EHO inspection they'll expect to see details of every carcass that's come through his hands, including who he bought them from and the "trained hunter" number of the stalker.
I suppose it all depends on what level of risk you're prepared to take. A bit like me carrying a knife at all times - whenever I mention it the doom-mongers on here tell me I'm risking my FAC, but it's a risk I'm prepared to take for the convenience of always having my knife handy, and no-one's pulled me up over it yet.
I wonder if illegal supply of venison also puts one's FAC at risk?

Apparently they are all checked by a Vet prior to payment.

 

[VSS]

Apparently they are all checked by a Vet prior to payment.

Well presumably the vet is just doing a visual check of what's in front of him, rather than looking at the records? I wonder what would happen if the vet picked up on a notifiable disease in a carcass, and the game dealer wasn't able to tell him where it came from?

 

[Ratel]

Well presumably the vet is just doing a vis ual check of what's in front of him, rather than looking at the records? I wonder what would happen if the vet picked up on a notifiable disease in a carcass, and the game dealer wasn't able to tell him where it came from?

I think this particular dealer would be able to cover himself and lay blame on someone, they don't pay for a week or two.

 

[HonestJohn]

Never heard of needing to be registered as a good business to drop deer off at local game dealers, all they require is DSC 1 for their records they all say, and personal contact details as well if course

 

[VSS]

Never heard of needing to be registered as a good business to drop deer off at local game dealers, all they require is DSC 1 for their records they all say, and personal contact details as well if course

It's all in the FSA guide. You need to be registered as a food business even if all you do is take carcasses straight from the field to an AGHE (game dealer).

 

[Bowland blades]

level 2 enables you to butcher the deer up for sale

since when ? DSC2 really qualifies me for nothing , its just some leases will only take bids from level 2 and some culling bosses will expect it on contracting and places such as the Arran Scheme ask for such on selection . I have had my DSC 2 for a couple of decades btw i am not decrying it, just it doesn't do right much

 

[HonestJohn]

It's all in the FSA guide. You need to be registered as a food business even if all you do is take carcasses straight from the field to an AGHE (game dealer).

just looked into this, apparently my local council here in Scotland will come and conduct an inspection. however, my deer never come home to any physical premises, they go straight from the field to the game dealer, so how does that even work?

 

[jcampbellsmith]

just looked into this, apparently my local council here in Scotland will come and conduct an inspection. however, my deer never come home to any physical premises, they go straight from the field to the game dealer, so how does that even work?

For this too you need to be registered as a food business. When I had my Edinburgh Council inspection, the guy was very helpful. His main focus was my paperwork - method statement and risk assessment. He was less concerned about the boot of my car or the old fridge that was then in my garage. I've since upgraded the fridge and review the paperwork annually. My method statement records two routes to the game dealer, direct from the field or the carcass my rest briefly in my fridge.
Regards
JCS

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Never heard of needing to be registered as a good business to drop deer off at local game dealers, all they require is DSC 1 for their records they all say, and personal contact details as well if course

Wild Game | Food Standards Scotland

FSS is the public sector food body for Scotland. We ensure that information on safety, standards and nutrition is independent, consistent and evidence-based.

www.foodstandards.gov.scot

Regards
JCS

 

[HonestJohn]

For this too you need to be registered as a food business. When I had my Edinburgh Council inspection, the guy was very helpful. His main focus was my paperwork - method statement and risk assessment. He was less concerned about the boot of my car or the old fridge that was then in my garage. I've since upgraded the fridge and review the paperwork annually. My method statement records two routes to the game dealer, direct from the field or the carcass my rest briefly in my fridge.
Regards
JCS

thanks for info JCS

I'm going to guess less than 5% of people selling to game dealers are registered as food businesses; at least, in my long stalking career, I've never encountered one yet!

Will look into it

 

[Klenchblaize]

My deer never come home to any physical premises, they go straight from the field to the game dealer, so how does that even work?

Somewhere I have FSA correspondence that indicated it was quite possible to obtain the SFB accreditation based on operations from a vehicle. You just need to develop a defined process around your operations, ensure the necessary hygiene considerations are allowed for and are demonstrable. All backed up my RAMS and record keeping.

K

 

[VSS]

just looked into this, apparently my local council here in Scotland will come and conduct an inspection. however, my deer never come home to any physical premises, they go straight from the field to the game dealer, so how does that even work?

See post #1 in this thread from 4 years ago:

Registering as a food business

In a recent thread on here it became aparent that lots of people (myself included) weren't aware that registration as a food business would be required even if all you do is transfer carcasses directly from the field to an AGHE. Following that discussion, I have registered as a food business...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

I have since upgraded to having my own approved larder, but my situation 4 years ago was the same as yours.

 

[VSS]

I'm going to guess less than 5% of people selling to game dealers are registered as food businesses; at least, in my long stalking career, I've never encountered one yet!

That is certainly a concern. An exposure of wide-scale illegal supply of meat into the human food chain could really upset the applecart, undermine consumer confidence in venison, result in tighter legislation, and put more than a few FACs at risk. Stalkers need to get their act together and do things properly and above board, or we'll lose what we've got.

 

[bottletopbill]

IF we do not keep on top it will mean more fees for more courses for us all.

 

[VSS]

IF we do not keep on top it will mean more fees for more courses for us all.

It's not the possibility of having to do more courses that worries me. It's the possibility of tightening the whole legislation around game meat production. As stalkers, we are very fortunate in that we can sell into the food chain with only minimal restrictions, compared to domestic livestock. I would hate for that to change as a result of the gung-ho attitude of a proportion of stalkers.

 

[bottletopbill]

Only takes one or two to incidents and they will hammer us all. But as usual the guilty ones will not be punished.

 

[John Doe]

thanks for info JCS

I'm going to guess less than 5% of people selling to game dealers are registered as food businesses; at least, in my long stalking career, I've never encountered one yet!

Will look into it

Not sure that I would be admitting that on the web. Doesn’t reflect well on the people you stalk with.

 

[HonestJohn]

Not sure that I would be admitting that on the web. Doesn’t reflect well on the people you stalk with.

I don't stalk with anyone but myself, and butcher my own meat, for now.. But, I know a lot of stalkers and estates with stalkers, and as said, haven't meet one that's registered.

don't believe that reflects badly on me, but judge on as you will of course