The game market is undergoing a shake up, with a new assurance scheme and a change of name for one of the main game promotion organisations.
From November, British Game Assurance (BGA) will be rebranded as Eat Wild. The assurance scheme will transfer to another organisation, Aim to Sustain.
The Aim to Sustain game assurance scheme will allow game farms, game shoots and estates to demonstrate publicly that they operate to the highest standards, which has been independently verified by an accredited external auditor.
These standards include assessment of animal health and welfare, food quality, environmental enhancement and protection, appropriate stocking levels, staff training and health and safety.
BGA was established five years ago to promote assurance and standards in the game market. Chief executive Louisa Clutterbuck said in a letter to members that the transfer of the assurance scheme to Aim to Sustain will allow the newly named Eat Wild to focus on another task: ensuring every bird shot as a route to market and a value to paying customers.
Clutterbuck said this was vitally important. “If there isn’t a healthy market for game, shooting has no social license to continue,” she said.
She said since BGA was launched, the game meat market had increased in value by 7%. “We look forward to continuing this trajectory,” she said.
Aim to Sustain’s operations director Spike Butcher said: “Everybody involved in Aim to Sustain appreciates that BGA has put into developing this scheme, with an impressive reputation fostered in the sustainable game management sector. Having such a strong platform in place will give the scheme the best possible chance of succeeding under new management.”