Sweeping reform proposals for game laws

Sweeping proposals to reform the legislation on game licensing and management were announced by Sustainable Food and Farming Minister Jeff Rooker at the CLA Game Fair on Saturday.

The Government proposes to abolish the need for those who sell and deal in game to require licences.

Lord Rooker said:

"Many of the laws surrounding game licensing are outdated and irrelevant. We don't need laws that were originally intended to stop peasants killing pheasants. The countryside has moved on a long way since then, and many people in both urban and rural England and Wales would like to sell or eat game. These proposals remove an unnecessary burden from shoots and retailers alike, making it easier for people throughout the country to buy local game.

"These proposals, if implemented, would fulfil the promise we made in the Rural Manifesto to modernise the game and licensing laws, and make sure they promote and encourage the game industry instead of tying it in red tape."

Many organisations, including the British Retail Consortium and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), have been calling for game licensing laws to be changed.

Andrew Opie, British Retail Consortium Director of Food Policy, said:

"Modern food retailing is extremely sophisticated. It achieves the highest standards of quality and hygiene and the requirement for a separate licence simply to sell game is an anachronism from another age.

"Retailers suffer thousands of pounds of administrative costs applying for licences and coping with inconsistent local authority enforcement. Scrapping the licence would save that unnecessary expenditure and broaden choice for customers."

BASC Chief Executive, John Swift, said:

"As a representative body for game shooting, BASC welcomes this new consultation which we see as a step towards updating laws emanating from the 18th and 19th centuries so that they are fit for purpose for the 21st.

"Cutting red tape will be a boost to the rural environment and economy as a whole not just everyone who shoots or deals in wild game as food. We encourage all who shoot to participate fully. This consultation will, we hope, ensure a sound legal basis for future development."

David Fursdon, CLA President said:

"The removal of these outdated laws affecting shooting shows that the Government takes both shooting and the wider game industry seriously, and that the announcement takes place at the CLA Game Fair highlights the significance of the announcement to all people interested in country sports. I am pleased the Government has chosen to retain the basic anti-poaching provisions in the Game Acts, a measure the CLA pressed for."

The consultation paper proposes to:-

* Remove the requirement to hold a game licence to take or kill game.

* Remove the requirement for a local authority licence and an excise licence in order to deal in game.

* Remove the restriction on dealing in game birds and deer during the close season, permitting sale all year round provided the game was lawfully killed during the open season.

In addition views are being sought on:

* Whether the laws governing the seasons for taking and killing game and conservation of game birds should be transferred to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

* Whether to retain or remove the restriction on shooting game on Sundays and Christmas Day.

* Whether to repeal provisions about the appointment of game keepers.