FOOD SAFETY GUIDANCE FOR HUNTERS

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued a draft discussion document entitled “Guidance Document on Wild Game, Hunting as a Primary Production Activity and the Processing of Wild Game for Human Consumption”.  The document has been circulated to various stakeholder groupings involved in the management, culling and processing of wild shot deer as a link in the human food chain. It is defined as a confidential working document and as such, it is not a public document, nor to be used as a reference in any form.

The document sets out to define and codify procedures, protocols and regulations affecting the handling and supply of wild shot game from “forest to fork”, with particular reference to the “Trained Person” requirement under Regulation (EC) no. 853/2004, registration under SI 432/2009 (European Communities (Food & Hygiene) Regulations 2009), and traceability under Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002. Effectively, the result will be to define hunters as “food business operators” within the provisions of the various Regulations affecting food safety, hygiene and traceability.

Interested persons should acquaint themselves with the contents of the document through their representative stakeholder grouping e.g. Irish Deer Society, Wild Deer Association of Ireland or other, as applicable. The FSAI have invited comments from interested parties, to be received by 3 May 2013, after which date it is expected that the finalised guidance will be published on the FSAI website, www.fsai.ie.

In the meanwhile, information on specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin may be viewed on the FSAI website at: 

www.fsai.ie/legislation/food_legislation/food_hygiene/
specific_hygiene_rules_for_food.html