Rural Affairs and Islands Committee 10 December 2025 [Draft]
Good morning. To follow your suggestion, convener, I will try to be brief not only with my notes but also by not speaking very much to others’ amendments.
Section 33 of the bill, as currently drafted, removes the requirements for licences to deal in venison. My amendment 321 would enable Scottish ministers to repeal the venison dealers’ licence by regulation at a time of their choosing. By making that an enabling power, there will be sufficient time for the NatureScot app to be integrated to the register of authorised persons, which would make the venison dealers’ licence surplus to requirements.
My amendment 252 would delete the entirety of section 33, and my amendments 322 and 323 would instead give ministers the power to repeal the venison dealers licence by regulation at a time of their approving. It is essential for food safety that there is appropriate, continuing oversight and traceability in respect of venison that is intended for human consumption.
I will briefly touch on other amendments in the group. I fully support Rhoda Grant’s amendment 75 and my colleague Rachael Hamilton amendments 254 and 255, which seek to add a venison action plan to the bill. I strongly urge other members to support those amendments, too.
I move amendment 321.