Game Meat

FACE considers that, in order to avoid distortion of competition, as well as unjustified restrictions on standard hunting practices – in particular for small quantities of wild game and game meat, supplied directly to the final consumer or retailer – the European Commission (DG SANCO) should elaborate guidelines in order to harmonise these national rules.

FACE remains convinced of the need to develop a Community Guide to Good Practice for wild game (meat) and will submit this issue to its ad hoc Working Group of national experts on game meat, set up to collate and evaluate the multiple interpretations of the relevant provisions for the appropriate handling of game and game meat.

FACE promotes the production of wild game meat by hunters as a valuable and high-quality food resource, according to agreed standards of public health and hygiene. Ever since the various EU Regulations of 2004 having a direct or indirect impact on hunting and on the production by hunters of wild game meat came into force – Council Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004, Council Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 and Council Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 – the priority for FACE has been the correct interpretation and implementation of the relevant provisions into national legislation.

In this regard, the ad hoc Game Meat, Hygiene & Health Working Group, composed of qualified experts from FACE Member Associations, has been a great help, in particular for contacts with the European Commission, Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO) and its official Advisory Group on the Food Chain and Animal Health. In 2007 this Advisory Group had set up the Animal Health Advisory Committee (AHAC) to enable the European Commission to discuss animal health related issues with multiple stakeholders, including hunters.