Management of game assurance scheme transfers to Aim to Sustain
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It was announced today that the assurance scheme built by British Game Assurance (BGA) will be transferred to Aim to Sustain later this autumn. When the transfer takes place, Aim to Sustain will take over and lead the next evolution of game assurance
It was announced today that the assurance scheme built by British Game Assurance (BGA) will be transferred to Aim to Sustain later this autumn. When the transfer takes place, Aim to Sustain will take over and lead the next evolution of game assurance.
As a partnership of eight different organisations with an interest in game management and shooting, and a dedication to high standards and self-regulation, Aim to Sustain is uniquely placed to expand and build on the invaluable work of the BGA since it launched in 2018.
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.
The scheme guarantees the quality of game meat for consumers through the Aim to Sustain assurance stamp, so they know that their game comes from an audited, high-quality source.
The Aim to Sustain partners and their scientific advisors at the GWCT believe strongly in self-regulation to raise and maintain standards across the sector. With this decision, they are committing to develop game assurance within the broader self-regulation and standards framework. The BGA will now focus on the marketing of game meat under the Eat Wild brand. By placing the assurance scheme at the centre of Aim to Sustain, all partners and the GWCT will play an equal role in self-regulation and promoting the assurance scheme throughout the game shooting community.
NGO chairman David Pooler said: “The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation believes that self-regulation is vital for the future of shooting and game management more widely. This is a view we have been working hard to reinforce among our members. Demonstrating the high welfare standards and the positive conservation benefits of game management is hugely important for all of us.
“Assurance plays a significant role in encouraging self-assurance among the shooting community, and we hope that by working together things will go from strength under the new banner of Aim to Sustain.”
The assurance standards cover: breeding, hatching and rearing of pheasant and partridge, running a lowland pheasant and partridge shoot and grouse moor management. The standards are varied, comprehensive, auditable, and focus on high standards and best practice.
Notes to Editors:
The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation: The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) represents the gamekeepers of England and Wales. The NGO defends and promotes gamekeeping and gamekeepers and works to ensure high standards throughout the profession. The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation was founded in 1997 by a group of gamekeepers who felt that keepering was threatened by public misunderstanding and poor representation. Today, there are 13,000 members of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation. www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk
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