Sale/Supply of venison 2025, Rules, Regs, Requirements. Wild Game or Game Meat.

[Goose504]

Hi Guys

Hoping you can clear something up for me

Been in contact with my LA regarding possible registration & also requirements needed to be able skin & sell carcasses. I'm now more confused then when I started

Their Response :-

Hi Jack,


Wild game guidance | Food Standards Agency



Guidance for primary producers and food business operators on the hygienic production of wild game | Food Standards Agency



Everything you need to know Jack is in the guidance – the table is brilliant. The guidance you’ve attached is a version of the FSA guidance it seems too.



If you are supplying carcasses with skins on, classified as wild game (i.e. a whole carcass), you wouldn’t need to register with us.



Skinning (or any further prep after killing to including gralloching, plucking, evisceration), categorises the game as ‘game meat’. If you want to supply wild game meat directly to the final consumer and/or local retail establishments who directly supply the final consumer you must register with us, have a food safety management system based on HACCP principles, and have adequate structures and operations in place for the processing of wild game (i.e. a larder, cutting room etc) – adequate facilities in place for the appropriate storage, including the ability to maintain the cold-chain, of wild game bodies and wild game meat.



Supply must be of small quantities of wild game meat. ‘’Small quantities” is regarded as self-defining because demand for wild game and wild game meat from final consumers and local retailers that supply directly to final consumers is limited.



A cutting room or larder would be very much like any other cutting room in a butcher shop, this we would inspect.

 

[75]

@Goose504 - just saw this thread from a couple of weeks back - what is it you want clearing up?

The statement from your EHO looks about right so I'm not sure which bit you're unsure of. Happy to help if you can clarify.

 

[VSS]

Hi Guys

Hoping you can clear something up for me

Been in contact with my LA regarding possible registration & also requirements needed to be able skin & sell carcasses. I'm now more confused then when I started

Their Response :-

Hi Jack,


Wild game guidance | Food Standards Agency



Guidance for primary producers and food business operators on the hygienic production of wild game | Food Standards Agency



Everything you need to know Jack is in the guidance – the table is brilliant. The guidance you’ve attached is a version of the FSA guidance it seems too.



If you are supplying carcasses with skins on, classified as wild game (i.e. a whole carcass), you wouldn’t need to register with us.



Skinning (or any further prep after killing to including gralloching, plucking, evisceration), categorises the game as ‘game meat’. If you want to supply wild game meat directly to the final consumer and/or local retail establishments who directly supply the final consumer you must register with us, have a food safety management system based on HACCP principles, and have adequate structures and operations in place for the processing of wild game (i.e. a larder, cutting room etc) – adequate facilities in place for the appropriate storage, including the ability to maintain the cold-chain, of wild game bodies and wild game meat.



Supply must be of small quantities of wild game meat. ‘’Small quantities” is regarded as self-defining because demand for wild game and wild game meat from final consumers and local retailers that supply directly to final consumers is limited.



A cutting room or larder would be very much like any other cutting room in a butcher shop, this we would inspect.

Follow the FSA guidance and you can't go wrong.
Trouble is, lots of stalkers have misinterpreted those guidelines (usually because they have failed to understand the difference between wild game and wild game meat, or because they have failed to understand that you need to be registered with your LA in order to supply in-skin carcases straight from the field to an AGHE (ie, game dealer)), and they will argue vehemently that their interpretation is correct.
Some EHOs have misinterpreted the guidelines too, but you can educate them far more easily than you can educate stubborn fellow stalkers!

 

[weblyish]

Follow the FSA guidance and you can't go wrong.
Trouble is, lots of stalkers have misinterpreted those guidelines (usually because they have failed to understand the difference between wild game and wild game meat, or because they have failed to understand that you need to be registered with your LA in order to supply in-skin carcases straight from the field to an AGHE (ie, game dealer)), and they will argue vehemently that their interpretation is correct.
Some EHOs have misinterpreted the guidelines too, but you can educate them far more easily than you can educate stubborn fellow stalkers!

Do you know what exactly I need to ask for with my local authority?

I emailed them (since the phone just rings out) but I don't think inner city authorities know much about deer

And since the deer won't be coming within 100miles of their area they said it wasn't anything to do with them and I should speak to the area I stalk in (which I already know is wrong)

 

[VSS]

Do you know what exactly I need to ask for with my local authority?

I emailed them (since the phone just rings out) but I don't think inner city authorities know much about deer

And since the deer won't be coming within 100miles of their area they said it wasn't anything to do with them and I should speak to the area I stalk in (which I already know is wrong)

What exactly are you intending to do with the carcasses? That's the starting point. You need to know that before you plan any further.

 

[muddy42]

Scotland seem to have a different rules from England, but Scotland's rules are under review. Everyone has confused everybody and most Local Authorities dont have a clue. I'm sure you will be fine.

 

[weblyish]

What exactly are you intending to do with the carcasses? That's the starting point. You need to know that before you plan any further.

It is to allow me to Shoot and transport directly in fur to an aghe larder.
No processing or anything.
Probably not this year but hopefully next year
I'm trying to get ahead of when I need to do it and register now but the council seem baffled as to what I want from them

 

[75]

Do you know what exactly I need to ask for with my local authority?

I emailed them (since the phone just rings out) but I don't think inner city authorities know much about deer

And since the deer won't be coming within 100miles of their area they said it wasn't anything to do with them and I should speak to the area I stalk in (which I already know is wrong)

You should be able to find a link to "register as a food business" somewhere on their website. I've done it with Manchester City Council and they didn't have a clue about deer but were helpful once I took them through everything. In your situation, I'd probably not mention specific game dealers / locations etc as you want to keep your options open and it's the principle of registration that is important not a specific dealer.

 

[VSS]

It is to allow me to Shoot and transport directly in fur to an aghe larder.
No processing or anything.
Probably not this year but hopefully next year
I'm trying to get ahead of when I need to do it and register now but the council seem baffled as to what I want from them

You need to register as a food business with your LA.
You will need to show them how you maintain traceability (eg, numbered carcass tags, where shot, cull record, who purchased, etc).
You will need to show them how you transport carcasses from field to AGHE (eg, clean vehicle, carcass trays, etc).
You will need a Trained Hunter number.

I posted in some detail about it a few years ago, here:

Thread 'Registering as a food business'

Dec 28, 2018

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 with my local authority, and thought I'd just share the process for the benefit of anyone else who needs to do the same:

First off, it didn't cost anything! Just downloaded a simple form, filled in and sent off. There are a number of "tick box" options for the type of food business that you want to...

• VSS
• Replies: 158
• Forum: Deer Stalking General

• 

 

[Mickeydredd]

deleted

 

[weblyish]

It is to allow me to Shoot and transport directly in fur to an aghe larder.
No processing or anything.
Probably not this year but hopefully next year
I'm trying to get ahead of when I need to do it and register now but the council seem baffled as to what I want from them

For those playing along at home I've just had my application to register returned

having read the guidance and noted that applications should be in at least 28 days before you start trading, and because I know that sometimes it can take a while for the council to get round to stuff
I gave a proposed start date of 01/01/2026

that is apparently ridiculously early and I should come back closer to the time,

so the correct time is something between 28 and 110 days - looking forward to filling the form in from scratch again for no good reason - top marks for the council for being as helpful as ever

 

[muddy42]

For those playing along at home I've just had my application to register returned

having read the guidance and noted that applications should be in at least 28 days before you start trading, and because I know that sometimes it can take a while for the council to get round to stuff
I gave a proposed start date of 01/01/2026

that is apparently ridiculously early and I should come back closer to the time,

so the correct time is something between 28 and 110 days - looking forward to filling the form in from scratch again for no good reason - top marks for the council for being as helpful as ever




View attachment 437419

what a pain!

 

[75]

For those playing along at home I've just had my application to register returned

having read the guidance and noted that applications should be in at least 28 days before you start trading, and because I know that sometimes it can take a while for the council to get round to stuff
I gave a proposed start date of 01/01/2026

I'd just reapply now with a new start date 29 days from now. It'll take them weeks to process as it is very unlikely that one of the London boroughs is familiar with the Wild Game Guide and the applicable regs so it'll sit on someone's desk until they figure out what to do with you (speaking from experience of Manchester City Council!).

 

[wytonpjs]

Admittedly, my application was during COVID (15 Jul 20) but it was approved immediately (22 Jul 20 - "If you haven't had a decision by this date you can assume its been approved as tacit consent applies"). Formally acknowledged approval was granted on 12 Oct 20 but my first premises inspection wasn't until 14 Sep 22. As I'm apparently a "low risk", I'm on a 2-yearly reinspection cycle with my last being done on 21 Nov 24.

My advice, once you have got your HACCP sorted and the basic facility organised, apply immediately.

 

[weblyish]

I'd just reapply now with a new start date 29 days from now. It'll take them weeks to process as it is very unlikely that one of the London boroughs is familiar with the Wild Game Guide and the applicable regs so it'll sit on someone's desk until they figure out what to do with you (speaking from experience of Manchester City Council!).

I was very tempted to slowly reduce the number of days out until I find out what is acceptable just for fun
I'm not actually in a rush for this, it's to open up options in case so I could have tried that

but took the sensible option and put in for 30 days hence

 

[VSS]

I had already started by the time I applied.

 

[Artful Dodger]

You need to register as a food business with your LA.
You will need to show them how you maintain traceability (eg, numbered carcass tags, where shot, cull record, who purchased, etc).
You will need to show them how you transport carcasses from field to AGHE (eg, clean vehicle, carcass trays, etc).
You will need a Trained Hunter number.

I posted in some detail about it a few years ago, here:

Thread 'Registering as a food business'

Dec 28, 2018

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 with my local authority, and thought I'd just share the process for the benefit of anyone else who needs to do the same:

First off, it didn't cost anything! Just downloaded a simple form, filled in and sent off. There are a number of "tick box" options for the type of food business that you want to...

• VSS
• Replies: 158
• Forum: Deer Stalking General

• 

Sorry if you've already answered this previously but what specifically do you use us for carcass trays? I'll be moving 25-30kg fallow around so need something reasonably sizeable and robust. Have you a recommendation?

 

[VSS]

Sorry if you've already answered this previously but what specifically do you use us for carcass trays? I'll be moving 25-30kg fallow around so need something reasonably sizeable and robust. Have you a recommendation?

Plasterer's bath is what most people seem to use, me included.

Plasterers Bath - Buy - HSS

www.hss.com

 

[75]

Sorry if you've already answered this previously but what specifically do you use us for carcass trays? I'll be moving 25-30kg fallow around so need something reasonably sizeable and robust. Have you a recommendation?

Jetsleds - we carried 110kg stag from pick up to farm shop in a large one the other day.

 

[sy247]

I like these for small stuff:

Titan Garden Tray Black

Size Check: 100cm (39.5") Long 55cm (21.5") Wide 15cm (6") High External

www.garlandproducts.com

And these for big stuff:

Plasterers Polyethylene Mixing Bath 165L

You'll love this heavy duty bath that's perfectly designed for mixing plaster. This bath can easily contain the plaster in liquid form, whether you're mixing interior or exterior plaster - even denser mixes such as brick mortar are no problem.It's manufactured from medium density polyethylene...

www.toolstation.com

With gravel grids in the bottom to keep the carcass out of any blood. Ideally with an elasticated cover.