Viscount Addisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the definition of "farmed game birds" in the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/1029) includes pheasant, partridge and game; and if not, why not, and whether they are satisfied that it is appropriate for such birds to be excluded from hygiene and inspection requirements.
The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)Yes. The definition of "farmed game birds" in the regulations includes pheasant, partridge and other game birds which are bred, reared and slaughtered in captivity; those released into the wild for shooting will be covered by future legislation to implement the EC Wild Game Directive.