Game dealer licences (Regulatory Reform (Game) Order 2007)
Changes to Game Licensing for taking or
selling game and venison
From 1 August 2007, new regulations will remove existing
licensing requirements for the game trade. This means that you
will no longer have to hold a local authority licence or an excise
licence in order to deal in game.
Restrictions on dealing in game birds and venison during the
close season will no longer apply. This means that any person
will be allowed to sell game and venison all year round provided
the animals in question were lawfully killed.
You will no longer be required to keep records as previously
required under section 11 of the Deer Act 1991relating to the sale
and purchase of venison. You will only have to keep records to
the level specified in EC Regulation 178/2002 if you sell game
birds or venison. This will allow your business to set up
traceability records with a level of detail that fits the size and
nature of your activities.
If you deal in game birds or venison, you should check your
source before you either:
- sell;
- offer or expose for sale;
- possess or transport for purposes of sale.
This is because you could be committing an offence if you know
or have reason to believe that the game bird or venison you offer
for sale was unlawfully killed, taken or poached during the close
season.
The new regulations will also remove the requirement for a
licence to kill or take game.
For further information contact Health and
Environment on 01653 600666 ext 249, 254 or 359.