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Licences to take or kill game

From 1 August 2007 the Regulatory Reform (Game) Order 2007 removed 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 1991 relating 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 game 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 also removed the requirement for a licence to kill or take game.

There are new rules for sustainable deer management are contained in the Regulatory Reform (Deer) (England and Wales) Order 2007 which came into effect on 1 October 2007.

More information is available from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

For further information please contact Environmental Health on 01883 732841 or e-mail eh@tandridge.gov.uk

Or write to us at:
Tandridge District Council
8 Station Road East
Oxted Surrey RH8 0BT

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