Julia Peet The Politics Show South West

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Game - traceability the issue?

What are you planning to eat on Christmas Day? Turkey, duck or perhaps something more unusual like pheasant, pigeon or rabbit?

If Game is your thing - make the most of it. Many dealers fear they could be out of business by Christmas 2006.

It is all to do with new EU regulations on how the meat is caught and sold on. Those in the industry say it is just more unnecessary meddling.

So what are the controversial new laws all about?

Well they are regulations from Europe; strict controls on the way game and venison are sold for human consumption; rules which it is said are designed to make meat more traceable.

That is because the new law dictates that if they want to sell their catch on, all but the smallest hunters must have a trained expert with them to vouch for its quality.

The dealers who buy the game say they're facing even bigger problems.

Jan Andrews has been a small game dealer in Dorset for 30 years.

She can currently buy her game direct from any stalker and then sell it on.

From 1 January 2006, though, she says it will not be so simple.

The new law states she must buy meat that has first been checked by a "trained hunter"; then she must employ a vet to inspect it again.

The effect, she believes, would be to force her and most small dealers like her, out of business.

Butchers like Clinton Bonner fear that, as a result, they will have trouble getting enough meat to sell.

The Food Standards Agency, or FSA, which will enforce the new rules says it is required to implement the food hygiene law by Europe.

The aim, it says, is to simplify and consolidate existing regulations and to ensure that food businesses take responsibility for the safe production of food.

But the FSA says it is now consulting on special provisions for small processors to make sure the new regulations are not too onerous on them.

The hunters though maintain that many on the ground still do not understand what is happening.

With that in mind the FSA told us it is about to issue new guidance for the industry to help clarify what is required.

It says with the hunting season coming to an end in February 2006, the new regulations will be rolled out in time for the start of next year's hunting season.

It says we are not going to see immediate changes or stringent enforcement in 2006.

For the small dealers like Jan Andrews that does offer some hope.

But she fears that unless Europe agrees that they are a special case then she may, in the end, have to say goodbye to her business and to her dreams of her sons following in her footsteps.

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