National wild venison standard

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308tikka

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A new standard for wild venison in England, N Ireland and Wales.

www.gov.uk

National quality assurance scheme for wild venison launches

Scheme to improve traceability of wild venison, increase buyer confidence and support woodland management launches in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk

A positive move; despite BASC spokesmen’s comments published on the gov.uk page, I didnt see any requirement for copper bullets usage to meet the new standard...
 
I have read it, seems to be some confusion about what constitutes lead free and I did not think the flow charts at the end were clear. It also talks about DSC 2 or people trained in handling large game as an inspector of the carcass.
I do sell small amounts of venison and carry out a lot of the traceability mentioned, am a registered food business and have done the appropriate food hygiene courses but I am not sure this actually applies to me or game dealers and collectors.
 
Why on earth don't they say up front what the cost will be?
I would assume game dealer will pay up and join, then insist that any supplier (i.e. us the deer stalker) also registers and pay's up.
So for the additional costs to all concerned a better price would be paid by the game dealer to the deer stalker, don't hold your breath on that one.
Does that mean less deer stalkers paying and with nowhere to dispose of the carcass less deer getting culled?
It is voluntary, so I assume we could still process and sell privately without the 'BQWV' special stamp?

I would hope that as BASC have had a hand they can advise what the cost will be?
@Conor O'Gorman any idea?
 
I have read a few pages but it is a significant change from current. The first point I picked up was that "trained hunters" should be qualified ton DSC2. When I have more time I will have a proper read
 
carinatauk said:
I have read a few pages but it is a significant change from current. The first point I picked up was that "trained hunters" should be qualified ton DSC2. When I have more time I will have a proper read
Click to expand...
Remember as a result of changing the DMQ syllabus Trained Hunter status is no longer awarded with DSC1. It’s awarded with DSC2.
 
I very much support improved carcass quality and consumer confidence but I’m struggling to see what this initiative covers that isn’t already covered by DSC / Large game hygiene and registration as a food business. Am I missing something (other than the cost of being audited to meet the standard, which is mentioned on the website but not quantified)??
 
So to control the ever increasing deer population red tape and ball-aks are going to be introduced…………yep that’ll work.
At least she replaced Zac Goldsmith so that has to be a positive.
 
Woodenbeam said:
So to control the ever increasing deer population red tape and ball-aks are going to be introduced…………yep that’ll work.
At least she replaced Zac Goldsmith so that has to be a positive.
Click to expand...
So would you advocate no change then? I remind you of your first comment!
 
cookingfat said:
The FC have managed to secure some funding to help the small processor( under 300 per year)
you can join for £110 and the FC will pay £180 I believe.
Nor sure which AGHE's are going to join the scheme?
I like the idea but can't see how its going to help me at the moment!
Click to expand...
This was “launched” by David Hooton of the FC at their excellent “managing deer in the landscape” conference and they had a recorded video from the DEFRA minister. The pricing tier was shown on a slide which I didn’t write down the full details but for it’s based on carcasses processed and the lowest tier covers up to 300/year. I recollect that this category was over £200 but the FC would offset a £100 of this as part of an introductory scheme. Wish I could recall the exact details but @Alastair Boston hopes to make the slides available soon.
 
Interesting article and raises s few questions.

1- membership fee cost?

2- Audit costs?

3- Audit frequency?

4- What standard are the Auditors qualified to/stalking expenses etc?

5- where can I find the Venison standard book/ regulations I have to meet?

6- who wrote the regulations?

After discussion with a friend involved with the red tractor scheme he has drawn a direct parallel. essentially a lot of red tape to no benefit of the stalker and therefore less deer culled as expressed previously
This doesn’t look anything more than an expensive backward step.
 
'The scheme is a cross-sector initiative developed by the Forestry Commission, Grown in Britain, Forestry England, Natural Resources Wales, National Game Dealers Association, British Association for Shooting and Conservation, British Deer Society, and the National Gamekeepers Organisation'
I think they missed one off, 'The Deer Initiative'

I might consider paying something, I would just off set it as a cost (remember you can do that if self employed deer manager/stalker) but the game dealer would/should need to pay more to the supplier, after all he will be getting more business and revenue.....in theory, but of course he won't as NZ will under cut him, deer will be left in the woods to rot or not get shot at all.
 
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I'm not a fan, to be honest.
Participants would basically be paying for something they already get for free from their local Council Environmental Health Dept, and be encumbered with duplicate inspections. It's basically just a rubber stamp to say you're complying with the law, with a few extra bits, such as lead free, thrown in for good measure.
It risks causing a two-tier market, with the larger producers, who can justify the cost of membership, commanding higher prices even though their production standards are no higher.
And for me, in Wales, putting a red, white and blue logo on my venison packaging could result in fewer sales, not more.
And if AGHEs start insisting on only taking carcasses from scheme members it would impact on those stalkers who only shoot small numbers, possibly leading to carcasses being dumped or venison being processed for sale illegally.

We already have standards and inspections. Do we really need more?
Those who are guilty of poor practice aren't suddenly going to change their ways as a result of this.
 
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