Selling venison

[Jimmy.jim86]

I've been looking through the requirements of selling venison and game birds to game dealers, butchers (retailers) and final consumers. By the looks of the government website if I sell to a game dealer or AGHE you need a game handling licence but to sell to a retailer or final consumer you don't.

I know I could go and do the large and small game meat hygiene course to be covered or DSC level 1 and be covered for large game.

How does everyone else sell their venison and what regulations do you stick too??

Thanks james

 

[Monkey Spanker]

There is only one set of regulations. What you deduce is correct, although you will struggle to find one that is able to take game in fur or feather. You are still liable though to abide by food standards requirements and traceability to ensure the carcass is fit to enter the food chain and records kept for traceability purposes.
MS

 

[sauer]

So as a DSC level 1 & 2 , would you recommend still doing this hygiene course ? Or need to ?
2nd ... I remember something along the lines of I can sell a carcass but not allowed to sell "processed " meat , ie burgers etc.??
Sorry to hijack thread but curious on this also .
Plus are there differences in legislation between England / Scotland ?

Again apologise James

Paul

 

[Monkey Spanker]

It is only DSC 1 that gives you the large game handling certificate which allows you to sell to other than the final consumer, or retailer supplying the final consumer.
The laws in England allow this and you can sell to an approved game handling establishment.
The laws in Scotland are different in that you may only sell venison to someone who holds a venison dealers licence.
MS

 

[Chasey]

See the Wild Game Guide 2015

I applied on line as a cottage industry and got regestered to sell prepaired meet direct to end user

You need DSC1, cull records, chiller records a chiller and a meat prep area with hand wash facilities(my one is my kitchen) meat board and suitable equippment

I was able to down load everything i needed on line

Your knife steralizing macheen (dishwasher) must operate above 82c and you need Detox serface cleener as a steralizing agent (domsetic product but aproved for use in this instance)

PM me an email address and Ill send over the PDFs i have.

ATB

Chasey

 

[Wylyekeeper]

The NGO guy Alan Barrell wrote a really good article on this in the last Rifle Shooter magazine. Basically you are right, but you must make sure that you fulfil the The Food Safety Act 1900 and regulation 178/2002 (look them up online). You must also be registered as a food business with your local authority.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

The NGO guy Alan Barrell wrote a really good article on this in the last Rifle Shooter magazine. Basically you are right, but you must make sure that you fulfil the The Food Safety Act 1900 and regulation 178/2002 (look them up online). You must also be registered as a food business with your local authority.

Not to sell in fur or feather direct to final consumer, or retailer supplying final consumer! It's a bit of a 'loop-hole' really.
MS

 

[Chasey]

The NGO guy Alan Barrell wrote a really good article on this in the last Rifle Shooter magazine. Basically you are right, but you must make sure that you fulfil the The Food Safety Act 1900 and regulation 178/2002 (look them up online). You must also be registered as a food business with your local authority.

In England (dont know about scotland) most of the rules dont apply to cottage industry (less than 300 deer per year)

Register as a food buisness and they will send the inspector round to sort out the rest.

They are very helpfull and will point you in the right direction for what you need. It cost me nothing in Maidstone

TBH its all common sense.

As an example as a cottage industry my meat transport is my car and an ice box. Trays or body bags used in transit from cull ground to fridge

My chiller is a Foster Fridge

My skinning area is the car port with 1000gauge virgin plastic used to provide a cleen work space

My meet prep aiea is the island in my kitchen with a home made chopping board

As its just me none of the staff or training regs & records need apply

Its all about tracableity, record keeping, heygeen and meat inspection

Its not hard, it just requires a bit of diciplin

ATB

 

[Jimmy.jim86]

Thanks for the answers guys. Looking at the regulations and the article in rifle shooter. The one thing I can't understand is why I can sell to a retailer supplying without game handling very. but can't sell to a game dealer without it. To me it should be the other way round or the same. A couple of pubs have enquirer about venison in the skin. Do they constitute retailers supplying the final man?

 

[Chasey]

Thanks for the answers guys. Looking at the regulations and the article in rifle shooter. The one thing I can't understand is why I can sell to a retailer supplying without game handling very. but can't sell to a game dealer without it. To me it should be the other way round or the same. A couple of pubs have enquirer about venison in the skin. Do they constitute retailers supplying the final man?

As far as I am aware you cant suply anyone except game deelers in the skin or out of it without registration

 

[Jimmy.jim86]

This is where I get confused as it says retailers supplying end user no need for regulations but to supply game dealers it's needed.

 

[Chasey]

This is where I get confused as it says retailers supplying end user no need for regulations but to supply game dealers it's needed.

Any DSC1 qualified person who has witnessed the beast before the shot and carried out a meet inspection can lable the carcus & supply a game dealer in the skin without further issue.

If you want to sell (or i beleive give away) butchered meet to an end user, you would need to register as a retailer and comply with food standards and tracabuility

Thats what i did

ATB

 

[jcampbellsmith]

This is where I get confused as it says retailers supplying end user no need for regulations but to supply game dealers it's needed.

The supply of wild game: a guide to food hygiene legislation | Food Standards Agency Call the English contact number (020 7276 8339) and discuss your specific requirements with them. Best regards JCS

 

[Chasey]

As above Download the PDF and read it especialy paragraph 23 onwards

As i understand it:

Selling in fur to a game deeler who is selling on to a retailer exempts you from Regulation 853/2004

As soon as you sell to an end user or an intermediary thats seeling to an end user (person, pub,resturant) then you have to comply with some parts of 853

ATB

 

[stratts]

Any DSC1 qualified person who has witnessed the beast before the shot and carried out a meet inspection can lable the carcus & supply a game dealer in the skin without further issue.

If you want to sell (or i beleive give away) butchered meet to an end user, you would need to register as a retailer and comply with food standards and tracabuility

Thats what i did

ATB

The bit in red is not actually correct mate officially you are supposed to be registered as a food business to do this but there are not many people that are!! In fact when I registered with my local council I was the 1st stalker they had come across to do it properly and ironically I have yet to take a carcass to an AGHE as I've used it all myself!! It was a painless excercise and the inspector was really helpful actually and I'm now registered and can supply to butchers, restaurants, etc, but not to the end user direct.

Lets face it until the majority of AGHE's get their act in gear they will continue to take it from anyone who can supply it, legal or not!! Before I even did DSC1 the AGHE I rang said no need to have any quals, just bring the pluck in a bag with the carcass and they would inspect it themselves before settling up!! (Which generally takes 6 weeks to get your dosh even for bunnies!!)

Stratts

 

[Monkey Spanker]

It's really not that difficult! Read page 9 here:
https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/multimedia/pdfs/guidance/wild-game-guide.pdf
You DO have to be a registered food business to sell deer to a game dealer (AGHE).
you DO NOT have to be registered as a food business to sell deer in fur to the final consumer or retailer supplying final consumer such as a local pub or restaurant.
It's that simple!
MS

 

[Chasey]

The bit in red is not actually correct mate officially you are supposed to be registered as a food business to do this but there are not many people that are!! In fact when I registered with my local council I was the 1st stalker they had come across to do it properly and ironically I have yet to take a carcass to an AGHE as I've used it all myself!! It was a painless excercise and the inspector was really helpful actually and I'm now registered and can supply to butchers, restaurants, etc, but not to the end user direct.

Lets face it until the majority of AGHE's get their act in gear they will continue to take it from anyone who can supply it, legal or not!! Before I even did DSC1 the AGHE I rang said no need to have any quals, just bring the pluck in a bag with the carcass and they would inspect it themselves before settling up!! (Which generally takes 6 weeks to get your dosh even for bunnies!!)

Stratts

Thanks Strats I stand corrected

Aside from asking if the supplier was DSC1 the issue has never raised its head before for game deelers?

I thaught there was some clause about if the game deeler was supplying to a retail outlet then we were not required to register?

If you shoot and graloch a deer then drive it to the chiller at the game deeler? Then I dont know how the inspections I went through for "use of home as a buisness" are in any way relevent. However reading the 2015 version your corect, thats how it reads?


Glad I am finaly leagle!!!!

Wonder how it would affect your deer orientated FAC if you got done for takeing meet to a game deeler without regestering?

What a mine field

 

[Chasey]

It's really not that difficult! Read page 9 here:
https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/multimedia/pdfs/guidance/wild-game-guide.pdf
You DO have to be a registered food business to sell deer to a game dealer (AGHE).
you DO NOT have to be registered as a food business to sell deer in fur to the final consumer or retailer supplying final consumer such as a local pub or restaurant.
It's that simple!
MS

That sounds mad

So I can transport a carcus home and hang it in my fridge for two weeks then sell it to a local resturant with out regestering as a buisness

but if i want to drop it in to the game deeler on my way home from a stalk i do have to register???

I can see how it reads but it sounds crazy

 

[norma 308]

Not going to be the most popular answer but if it's your local I'd give them the venison and have free meals and a nice clean slate behind the bar Seems fair to me especially as even pub grub can cost you £30 a head these days .. I'd go for that rather than say £30-40 for a processed muntjac and your mrs gets a night out
norma

 

[Monkey Spanker]

That sounds mad

So I can transport a carcus home and hang it in my fridge for two weeks then sell it to a local resturant with out regestering as a buisness

but if i want to drop it in to the game deeler on my way home from a stalk i do have to register???

I can see how it reads but it sounds crazy

Yep, it is a bit crazy!
However, regarding hanging it in your fridge for two weeks - you are still responsible for supplying safe food under the Food Safety Act 1990 and Reg 178/2002.
It's probably best and easiest just to register as a Food Business. It isn't difficult and the local council are generally very helpful and supportive to those deemed to be approaching the task in a responsible manner.
MS