When it comes to serving wild game at dinners or events, there is a lot of important information you should review first. The role of WECHU is to make sure that all events that serve wild game are following the applicable regulations.
Wild game dinners/events must meet the following laws:
- Ontario Regulation 493/17 – Food Premises
- Ontario Regulation 665/98 – Hunting
- The Health Protection and Promotion Act, 1990
- Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997
What does an event organizer need to do?
A food premises can serve uninspected meat that is obtained through lawful hunting, for the sole purpose of serving it at a wild game dinner event if the following requirements are met:
- Complete a Special Event Organizer Application form online at least 30 days before your event and submit it to the WECHU.
- Keep a list of names of everyone who attended the event.
- Keep a list of names of donors of the wild game meat.
- Keep wild game meat separate from inspected meat.
- Notify all persons attending the event that uninspected game meat will be served. You must print this notification on each ticket as well as post a sign in a visible area at the entrance of the place where the event is being held.
For more details about serving fish or wild game at charitable events and to review the applicable laws, please review this information page from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
If you have any questions, please contact the Environmental Health Department at 519-258-2145 ext. 4475 to speak with a Public Health Inspector.