Supplying venison

[Ploddy Paul]

Like a lot of people on here I often struggle to shift venison. After reading about people registering as a food business, even if they are using their garage, I thought I’d give it a go. Didn’t go too well, they didn’t say no but they didn’t say yes. Have to wait and see! However one thing that was mentioned was that it doesn’t matter if you charge for the meat or if you give it away, you are “ supplying “, and as such you need to be registered. I suppose it sort of makes sense. Although with hindsight telling them I was giving it away to friends and family maybe wasn’t so clever!

 

[Bo Diddley]

Can't be right.

 

[VSS]

Like a lot of people on here I often struggle to shift venison. After reading about people registering as a food business, even if they are using their garage, I thought I’d give it a go. Didn’t go too well, they didn’t say no but they didn’t say yes. Have to wait and see! However one thing that was mentioned was that it doesn’t matter if you charge for the meat or if you give it away, you are “ supplying “, and as such you need to be registered. I suppose it sort of makes sense. Although with hindsight telling them I was giving it away to friends and family maybe wasn’t so clever!

They are correct.
Any transfer to a third party, whether given, sold or bartered, is "supply".
Although not all scenarios require you to be registered, most do.
There is no cost to register.

What was it that didn't go well? Lots of us on here have been through the registration process, whether for the sale of venison or for the sale of carcasses to an AGHE, so no doubt we could give you some guidance based on our own experiences.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Well I'll be dambed, looks like i got it wrong again and I'm breaking regulations when I give any away

 

[paulbshooting]

Did the same in 2020 and a simple process to follow to get approved. Starting selling venison then and built a local customer base. Processing a couple hundred of deer a year and dont miss the game dealer trips and hassle.

 

[Flash G 74]

hello, Do butchers need a special licence to sell Venison ??

 

[LarryLightFoot]

I’m sure everyone will have a different experience as EHO’s vary from LA to LA just like FEO’s .
I can only comment on my experience, not to dissimilar to yours although I never mentioned a garage set up .
Today I was signed off by my EHO to supply out of skin carcasses after my inspection. No hygiene awards as I’m business to business.
I have my LANTRA S&L GHC and DSC1 you can sell to F&F’s but your issue reading between the lines is how your garage is set up and obvs the EHO isn’t 100% about it so no matter how many comments on here say do this do that at the end of the day you need to understand what your EHO will be happy with .
I built a purpose built Deer Larder from the ground up .
But if all you have is a garage then you have to think how can I make this food safe if I want to put carcasses into the food chain .
DM me if you want to chat as I started out in my garage and it was shat .

 

[WillG]

I’m sure everyone will have a different experience as EHO’s vary from LA to LA just like FEO’s .
I can only comment on my experience, not to dissimilar to yours although I never mentioned a garage set up .
Today I was signed off by my EHO to supply out of skin carcasses after my inspection. No hygiene awards as I’m business to business.
I have my LANTRA S&L GHC and DSC1 you can sell to F&F’s but your issue reading between the lines is how your garage is set up and obvs the EHO isn’t 100% about it so no matter how many comments on here say do this do that at the end of the day you need to understand what your EHO will be happy with .
I built a purpose built Deer Larder from the ground up .
But if all you have is a garage then you have to think how can I make this food safe if I want to put carcasses into the food chain .
DM me if you want to chat as I started out in my garage and it was shat .

Larry could I drop you a message as I would be keen to pick your brains as well.

 

[Flash G 74]

hello, Do butchers need a special licence to sell Venison ??

As there is a new one in Town so i thought maybe of interest in buying ?? Am going to check out

 

[Malxwal]

@sauer

 

[Grand Slam]

Like a lot of people on here I often struggle to shift venison. After reading about people registering as a food business, even if they are using their garage, I thought I’d give it a go. Didn’t go too well, they didn’t say no but they didn’t say yes. Have to wait and see! However one thing that was mentioned was that it doesn’t matter if you charge for the meat or if you give it away, you are “ supplying “, and as such you need to be registered. I suppose it sort of makes sense. Although with hindsight telling them I was giving it away to friends and family maybe wasn’t so clever!

Be very interesting to see what didn't go well. It really is a simple process to tick all the relevant FSA boxes. I started out in a small kitchen with a single fridge and pull up bar in the garden for suspended work (5 Stars).

I now do everything in my shed. And yes, I do not have a complete set up yet (Sink / running water etc) but I have systems in place to ensure food hygiene standards are met at all time.

Having to wait and see doesn't sound right either. On first registration I was told there and then what rating I was given as its part of the form they fill out detailing any intervention scores given during the inspection. The more points given, the lower the rating.

What exactly have they said?

 

[LarryLightFoot]

Larry could I drop you a message as I would be keen to pick your brains as well.

Sure

 

[sauer]

Im in a double garage lined and clad with hygienic panelling
As said you will need to do what your EHO will be happy with .
I have winch 11ft up on outside of garage wall for bigger species and skinning etc
Whatever you do to keep your EHO happy will have to be duplicated or recorded in your risk assessments / HACCAP
There are ways round things to keep EHO happy and fulfilling reg requirements

I fulfilled all requirements and my EHO dept was happy.... its mainly common sense, abiding by regs and record keeping and cleanliness

Paul

 

[LuckyEddie]

Been to @sauer place a couple of years ago.
His set up is fantastic and wish I had the space for something similar.

 

[Grand Slam]

I’m sure everyone will have a different experience as EHO’s vary from LA to LA just like FEO’s .
I can only comment on my experience, not to dissimilar to yours although I never mentioned a garage set up .
Today I was signed off by my EHO to supply out of skin carcasses after my inspection. No hygiene awards as I’m business to business.
I have my LANTRA S&L GHC and DSC1 you can sell to F&F’s but your issue reading between the lines is how your garage is set up and obvs the EHO isn’t 100% about it so no matter how many comments on here say do this do that at the end of the day you need to understand what your EHO will be happy with .
I built a purpose built Deer Larder from the ground up .
But if all you have is a garage then you have to think how can I make this food safe if I want to put carcasses into the food chain .
DM me if you want to chat as I started out in my garage and it was shat .

Interested to hear why no hygiene award needed as business to business? I am a registered food business and sell to other businesses (Retailers that supply the consumer) and I have a hygiene rating. Am I missing something?

Genuinely curious

 

[VSS]

Interested to hear why no hygiene award needed as business to business? I am a registered food business and sell to other businesses (Retailers that supply the consumer) and I have a hygiene rating. Am I missing something?

Genuinely curious

Possibly his EHO hasn't read the FSA Wild Game document very carefully?

 

[LarryLightFoot]

Quite possibly it’s an interpretation aspect, as I said like FEO’s EHO’s will all vary from LA to LA, that said he told he has inspected AGHE’s etc in the past .
I can only go on what he told me, I’m not selling butchered/processed venison to public as such only whole carcasses out of skin to butchers etc and butchered venison to my whattsapp friends & family .
He did say if I were to receive a hygiene rating it would have been a solid 5 so I’ll take that .
Main thing for me is looking forward to August I can crack on with supplying as long as the Fallow turn up

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Like a lot of people on here I often struggle to shift venison. After reading about people registering as a food business, even if they are using their garage, I thought I’d give it a go. Didn’t go too well, they didn’t say no but they didn’t say yes. Have to wait and see! However one thing that was mentioned was that it doesn’t matter if you charge for the meat or if you give it away, you are “ supplying “, and as such you need to be registered. I suppose it sort of makes sense. Although with hindsight telling them I was giving it away to friends and family maybe wasn’t so clever!

Give it away, free always gets a knock at the door

 

[sauer]

Give it away, free always gets a knock at the door

Giving away for free you are still liable and required to register as a food business..

Give it to a family member or next door neighbour and they fall ill... suspect your venison and report to local EHO.... it comes back to ypu and consequences thereof

 

[Bugsy]

Giving away for free you are still liable and required to register as a food business..

Give it to a family member or next door neighbour and they fall ill... suspect your venison and report to local EHO.... it comes back to ypu and
Some family you’ve got and a brick through the neighbours greenhouse .. sorted .. a wee bit of scare mongering .. there’s probably millions of wee bits of venison giving as gifts or treats every year so I don’t think we’ve to much to worry about . The only time I’ve had a dodgy gut was eating chicken I got from Tescos .