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

[Norfolk Deer Search]

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.

Don’t bother run it in to your local game dealer, there is no money in bring a Fred in a shed.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

@VSS you bust a gut butchering venison from your deer parks as a tax write off against your other farming practices, i know that and you know that, what people don’t understand when setting up these kind of operations is by the time you cost it correctly charge yourself a wage , disposal costs, packaging costs to a professional standard and then the hassle and ball ache of doing farmers markets etc p
Simply not financially viable to do!

Run the buggers in and save yourself a fortune

 

[Klenchblaize]

There's a reason deer parks in the South East are processing and selling (on site) their culled beasts:

There are NO dealers willing to collect the "buggers" or allow them to be "run in" to a processing plant.

They are also compelled to have a large pit to dispose of that which does not sell.

K

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

There's a reason deer parks in the South East are processing and selling (on site) their culled beasts:

There are NO dealers willing to collect the "buggers" or allow them to be "run in" to a processing plant.

They are also compelled to have a large pit to dispose of that which does not sell.

K

Then one had to ask the question- why have a deer park?

But what you’re also not understanding is that they are also using it as a tax write off against their other estate activities it’s a tax fiddle end off

 

[Klenchblaize]

Then one had to ask the question- why have a deer park?

But what you’re also not understanding is that they are also using it as a tax write off against their other estate activities it’s a tax fiddle end off

I think you'll find the National Trust inherited a number of deer parks by default, and are most happy to continue their management/guardianship of the house within the grounds. The park's deer management is left to others who no doubt do their best.

What I may or may not understand is irrelevant. I simply offer the observation to demonstrate that if a deer park/farm cannot solicit Game Dealer interest in UK venison, what chance a man & van even if he/she totes a Creedmoor?

K

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

I think you'll find the National Trust inherited a number of deer parks by default, and are most happy to continue their management/guardianship of the house within the grounds. The park's deer management is left to others who no doubt do their best.

What I may or may not understand is irrelevant. I simply offer the observation to demonstrate that if a deer park/farm cannot solicit Game Dealer interest in UK venison, what chance a man & van even if he/she totes a Creedmoor?

K

And they’ll be running it as a tax fiddle as well because certainly there ain’t no money in it and that is fact

 

[VSS]

@VSS you bust a gut butchering venison from your deer parks as a tax write off against your other farming practices, i know that and you know that

In that respect you are completely wrong. So far wide of the mark that I don't even think it's worth trying to explain it to you.
If anything, my venison business is propping up some of my other less profitable (but nonetheless enjoyable) farming activities.

Simply not financially viable to do!

I'm beginning to think this is a bit of a "dog in the manger" attitude from you. Just because you, personally, were unable to make it pay, you think no one else should be able to.

The demand for venison here seems to be insatiable right now. I simply don’t have access to enough deer to supply the demand. It's crazy!
I'm having to buy in carcasses just to keep my customers supplied. I can pay £4 per kg for in-skin fallow carcasses, provided they're up to my spec, and still make a decent margin on them.
(If they're not to my spec I don’t want them, end of).

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

In that respect you are completely wrong. So far wide of the mark that I don't even think it's worth trying to explain it to you.
If anything, my venison business is propping up some of my other less profitable (but nonetheless enjoyable) farming activities.


I'm beginning to think this is a bit of a "dog in the manger" attitude from you. Just because you, personally, were unable to make it pay, you think no one else should be able to.

The demand for venison here seems to be insatiable right now. I simply don’t have access to enough deer to supply the demand. It's crazy!
I'm having to buy in carcasses just to keep my customers supplied. I can pay £4 per kg for in-skin fallow carcasses, provided they're up to my spec, and still make a decent margin on them.
(If they're not to my spec I don’t want them, end of).

You are quite right, I’m a qualified butcher and I can’t make it pay!

Electricity, water, waste disposal paying myself a wage, cleaning costs etc etc etc

And that’s without time and effort at markets and flogging the bloody stuff.

SOD THAT!

I’m not the only one on the SD who can’t see the shining venison light either.

I earn more at work without breaking a sweat

 

[VSS]

You are quite right, I’m a qualified butcher and I can’t make it pay!

That doesn't mean that nobody can make it pay. It just means you're not particularly good at it.

I earn more at work without breaking a sweat

I'm sure we could all earn more by doing something different from what we're doing, but that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about making something pay. Which means not making a loss. If I wanted to earn more then I wouldn't be a farmer, and I wouldn't be fiddling about butchering deer either. But as it happens, I enjoy doing those things, so provided I can "make them pay" (ie, at least break even, and hopefully generate a bit of profit) then I am quite content. I am not in the slightest bit interested in earning more.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

That doesn't mean that nobody can make it pay. It just means you're not particularly good at it.

Your funny!

2 reds hit the dealer this morning @ £1.80/kg and the hardest thing about the whole job was waving them out of the gate.

Easy money

Pays the bar bill

 

[Artful Dodger]

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.

I've now bought two of the Toolstation plasters' baths and they're great. I use them in the car for transportation and then skin over them to catch everything. Fantastic suggestion. Thanks

 

[sy247]

I've now bought two of the Toolstation plasters' baths and they're great. I use them in the car for transportation and then skin over them to catch everything. Fantastic suggestion. Thanks

You can drill some holes in either end and fit a piece of rope with some hose pipe as handles to make it easier to move reds around.

They aren't cheap trays but they are good quality.

I'm glad you found the suggestion useful.

 

[r6demon]

Jumping in as I am in the same situation, albeit a different response from my application.

Cambs trading standards called me after 48 hours for an interview and deemed me low risk, I am now awaiting my food hygiene inspection.

I have completed food hygiene 1-3 online and I am in the process of DSC1 and wild game certification which I believe will fine me my hunters number.

Are there any reliable Sources for helping with my HACCP as this is the part that’s making me nervous!

I have an outdoor kitchen that I will use for my preparation, but no larder as yet. Just a small under counter fridge. Will this trip me up?

I’d like to be able to break down the carcass at times and retail in vac pack.

I have some info from trading standards that I am happy to share with the OP if you send me your email!

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.

View attachment 437475

 

[Grand Slam]

Jumping in as I am in the same situation, albeit a different response from my application.

Cambs trading standards called me after 48 hours for an interview and deemed me low risk, I am now awaiting my food hygiene inspection.

I have completed food hygiene 1-3 online and I am in the process of DSC1 and wild game certification which I believe will fine me my hunters number.

Are there any reliable Sources for helping with my HACCP as this is the part that’s making me nervous!

I have an outdoor kitchen that I will use for my preparation, but no larder as yet. Just a small under counter fridge. Will this trip me up?

I’d like to be able to break down the carcass at times and retail in vac pack.

I have some info from trading standards that I am happy to share with the OP if you send me your email!

I started out doing venison from my Kitchen with no issues. Main questions I was asked was in relation to cleanliness, transport, temp logging and pest control. I have a HACCP that was kindly given to me by another member on here. If you want to ping me your email address over I can send it on. It covered everything I needed.

 

[75]

I have an outdoor kitchen that I will use for my preparation, but no larder as yet. Just a small under counter fridge. Will this trip me up?

I’d like to be able to break down the carcass at times and retail in vac pack.

What do you mean by "outdoor kitchen"? An enclosed space / shed etc which isn't part of the main house or an open, outdoor space?

How do you intend to keep the outdoor kitchen clean / pest free etc?

How do you intend to keep the carcass chilled when shot?

I think these will be the two main questions from the EHO based on your post. Note also that vac packing increases risk considerably so is one of the triggers that bumps your "score" up from a risk perspective for the council.

 

[r6demon]

It’s fully enclosed 8m x 4 m outdoor kitchen sinks food prep and multiple bbqs. With a fridge. I am currently looking for a larder to install in it as well for the carcass’. Most of the time I will stalk AM and then breakdown as soon as I am home.

All valid points though thank you!!

 

[Grand Slam]

It’s fully enclosed 8m x 4 m outdoor kitchen sinks food prep and multiple bbqs. With a fridge. I am currently looking for a larder to install in it as well for the carcass’. Most of the time I will stalk AM and then breakdown as soon as I am home.

All valid points though thank you!!

Give @Game Larder a shout if you are looking at putting in a larder. They can talk you through your options, from standard cold rooms to custom builds. Or depending on your numbers, maybe look at the Landig range that they offer too.

 

[75]

It’s fully enclosed 8m x 4 m outdoor kitchen sinks food prep and multiple bbqs. With a fridge. I am currently looking for a larder to install in it as well for the carcass’. Most of the time I will stalk AM and then breakdown as soon as I am home.

All valid points though thank you!!

Butchering warm meat isn't great. You need to let the carcass set. It'll be sloppy and bloody so won't give the best product (in my opinion)

 

[r6demon]

Thank you 75, and I totally agree, butchering the deer in the same day isn’t ideal and definitely makes life more challenging! I am in the process of acquiring a fridge, but like all new starters it’s a tight budget to purchase everything you need at once.

Give @Game Larder a shout if you are looking at putting in a larder. They can talk you through your options, from standard cold rooms to custom builds. Or depending on your numbers, maybe look at the Landig range that they offer too.

Thank you Gramdslam. I have looked at their range and their equipment is I am on a startup budget, so I am trying to find a tall fridge to convert in the first instance or a coke style fridge. This should get me going initially until I can build up my funds!!

 

[Game Larder]

Thank you 75, and I totally agree, butchering the deer in the same day isn’t ideal and definitely makes life more challenging! I am in the process of acquiring a fridge, but like all new starters it’s a tight budget to purchase everything you need at once.

Thank you Gramdslam. I have looked at their range and their equipment is I am on a startup budget, so I am trying to find a tall fridge to convert in the first instance or a coke style fridge. This should get me going initially until I can build up my funds!!

We have some exdemo stock coming up for grabs so keep your eyes on our socials as they will be discounted and in perfect working order