Government sets standard for venison for food consumption as way of controlling increasing population of deer

In a strategy released this week and backed by forestry minister Trudy Harrison, it says that increased wild deer management is “essential” to protect existing woodland and farm crops, newly planted saplings and meet England’s tree planting targets.

A wild venison quality assurance scheme is being created to demonstrate best practice for food production and increase buyer confidence in British wild venison.

It is open to applicants, such as venison producers and processors, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and will ensure a set of audited standards are met throughout the supply chain, from forests, to the processing chain, to supermarket shelves.

Richard Stanford, Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, said: “A healthy native wild deer population that is in balance with its ecosystem will allow woodland to flourish, and support biodiversity.

"However where there are high-density populations of wild deer these can negatively impact the establishment, growth and biodiversity of woodland. Deer therefore must be managed as part of sustainable forestry in England which will also support the development of the wild venison market as a healthy meat.

“Boosting confidence in the British venison market encourages deer management and is a sustainable alternative to fencing and plastic tree guards in the landscape. As such, I strongly encourage producers to apply for this new scheme.”

Applicants must demonstrate they comply with the new scheme, ensuring carcasses are handled correctly, premises are registered as food businesses with the local authority, and that standards expected for producing food are met in line with relevant regulations and best practice, ensuring that full traceability occurs.

It is hoped the first quality-assured meat badged under this scheme will go on sale next year.

Venison has been cited previously as an affordable meat option that is high in essential amino acids and in addition, a rich source of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, iron, and zinc, low in cholesterol and saturated fats compared to other red meats and is a high-quality source of protein.

The quality assurance scheme is a cross-sector project developed by the Forestry Commission, Grown in Britain, Forestry England, Natural Resources Wales, National Game Dealers Association, British Association for Shooting and Conservation, British Deer Society, and the National Gamekeepers Organisation.

Martin Edwards, Head of Deer & Woodland Management British Association for Shooting and Conservation, said: “The British Quality Wild Venison standard has the capability to grow confidence in the wild venison market through opening doors and allowing wild venison to reach its full potential.

"A wild venison market working at full capacity across the supply chain will assist with the management of wild deer in England & Wales and maximise the use of a healthy source of protein.”

In the England Trees Action Plan and the Environment Improvement Plan the Government committed to releasing a deer management strategy.

It went out to consultation last summer with a number of proposals.

They included more targeted incentives to increase landowner focus on reducing impacts where deer are preventing establishment and regeneration of new and existing woodland; improving laws and regulations around action to curb deer population increases in a sustainable and humane way; review of legislation to enable more effective control of the invasive species; a mandatory minimum standard for all persons culling deer; the introduction of a financially and environmentally sustainable wild venison supply chain and the development of a National Deer Data Dashboard to collate information on risk, deer culled, their impacts and abundance.

The government says a response will be published in due course.