Traceability principles and requirements for wild game

Traceability is the ability to trace and follow a food, feed, food-producing animal or substance intended to be, or expected to be incorporated into a food or feed, through all stages of production, processing and distribution.

Traceability rules help keep track of food in the supply chain. They ensure that efficient and accurate withdrawals and recalls of unsafe foods from the market can be made in the event of any food safety problems.

Principles and Requirements for the traceability of food apply to all stages of the food supply chain and are part of the legal responsibility to manage food safety risks. Primary producers (including those who transport or store wild game), food business operators and retailers are required to meet these traceability rules. For further guidance see our Food traceability, withdrawals and recalls guidance.

The basic principle is that as wild game and wild game meat moves through the supply chain there should be a “one step forward, one step back” record at each stage (for example, both the source and the destination should be identified and a record kept). 

Traceability records need to be up-to-date and kept at least until it can be reasonably assumed that the food has been consumed and be available to competent authorities upon demand. The records need to include:

• description of the food
• volume/quantity
• name and address of FBO dispatching food
• name and address of consigner (if different)
• Name and address of FBO receiving the food
• name and address of consignee (if different)
• reference identifying lot, batch or consignment
• date of dispatch

Traceability requirements do not apply to those who hunt wild game for own private domestic consumption (see exemptions). However, primary producers supplying small quantities of wild game and wild game meat direct to the final consumer or to local retail establishments must comply with the general principles and requirements for traceability set out in food law.