Sale of frozen rabbits

[old keeper]

Does anyone know if it's legal to sell shot/ ferreted rabbits that have been frozen to dog rescue societies?
I've done this for donkeys years with no problems whatsoever. However, a member of one such club has said you now have to follow DEFRA rules regarding the sale of rabbits for animal feed.

 

[VSS]

Does anyone know if it's legal to sell shot/ ferreted rabbits that have been frozen to dog rescue societies?
I've done this for donkeys years with no problems whatsoever. However, a member of one such club has said you now have to follow DEFRA rules regarding the sale of rabbits for animal feed.

I don't know the specific details, but there are quite strict guidelines with regard to selling pet food, and that would most likely include your rabbits. I don't think these rules are new though.

 

[Overlay]

Hi Old keeper
I’m not sure anymore, all I do now apart from goeshomers and personal dog food they now go frozen to my two local zoos WHOLE in batches of a 100 ish with no payment required, I have given them a assurance / disclaimer all rabbits are head or neck shot with copper ammunition ( Norma segmented ) I inspect external and are then frozen within 6 hrs they inspect every rabbit and remains are incinerated, I believe they feed them headless and whole after de frost
The Zoo are very happy on the process, to be honest I stay away from anything to do with human consumption or with money attached, nothing is easy these days

 

[Woodenbeam]

Does anyone know if it's legal to sell shot/ ferreted rabbits that have been frozen to dog rescue societies?
I've done this for donkeys years with no problems whatsoever. However, a member of one such club has said you now have to follow DEFRA rules regarding the sale of rabbits for animal feed.

Well if they no longer want to purchase your rabbits they don’t have to………

 

[old keeper]

I supplied a zoo with rabbits for many years, all very easy, then they had a fall-out with Defra over something and Defra responded by making things difficult and eventually, it got too much trouble so I stopped supplying them.

The reason I asked this question was because this is a German Shepherd club that rehomes and rehabilitates difficult dogs. A new member has joined who is selling frozen rabbits for £6.50 each !!!!!!
She has said that it is illegal for them to purchase rabbits from sources like mine as we contravene Defra's rules.

Increasingly, I miss the days when everything was so much simpler

 

[Heym SR20]

Very simple answer is to look Defra rules, or ask the lady who is selling rabbits to show you the Defra rules.

I would suggest a google search will throw up a lot of useful information.

My 30 second google search suggest its Food Standards Agency rather DEFRA that is the principle Agency. But that view is based a very short 30 second overview.

 

[VSS]

Pet food

The FSA is responsible for animal feed legislation which covers the manufacture of feed for non-food producing animals including pet food and pet treats.

www.food.gov.uk

 

[Woodenbeam]

I supplied a zoo with rabbits for many years, all very easy, then they had a fall-out with Defra over something and Defra responded by making things difficult and eventually, it got too much trouble so I stopped supplying them.

The reason I asked this question was because this is a German Shepherd club that rehomes and rehabilitates difficult dogs. A new member has joined who is selling frozen rabbits for £6.50 each !!!!!!
She has said that it is illegal for them to purchase rabbits from sources like mine as we contravene Defra's rules.

Increasingly, I miss the days when everything was so much simpler

I think at £6.50 a piece that business will be short lived. Assuming they’re in the fur this does seem a tad excessive & I would have thought your existing buyers will circumvent the new regime.

 

[old keeper]

Pet food

The FSA is responsible for animal feed legislation which covers the manufacture of feed for non-food producing animals including pet food and pet treats.

www.food.gov.uk

Thanks for that VSS