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Welcome to
The Game
Farmers'
Association

Pheasant sitting in a field of butter cups
The Game Farmers' Association (GFA) is a trade organisation dedicated to the production of quality gamebirds for the UK shooting industry.

Many shoots in Britain rely on hand-reared gamebirds, released into the countryside during the summer to supplement the wild stocks before the winter shooting season begins. Good game farming ensures that these birds, mostly pheasant and partridge, are strong, fit and ready for the natural environment in which they will live.

Most game farmers in Britain are members of the GFA and the Association represents their interests, as well as encouraging everyone who rears game to follow high standards.

Some of our most important work has been to secure near-identical yet practical Game Rearing Codes for England, Scotland and Wales. These ensure that game farming is officially recognised by Government and is always carried out to a high welfare standard, backed by the force of law.

Latest News & Information

DEFRA's announcement about licencing the release of game birds on and near protected sites in 2024

Defra makes long awaited announcement about licencing the release of game birds on and near protected sites in 2024.    Click here to read the announcement in full.   ... read more

Announcement from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs regarding gamebird licensing for 2024.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs have made an announcement regarding gamebird licensing for 2024.   Click here to read in full the letter sent yesterday by  ... read more

GFA backs Aim to Sustain's Plea on Catching-Up

The GFA is echoing Aim to Sustain's call for anyone catching-up this season to observe the 21-day standstill introduced by DEFRA last January. The GFA is also calling on all of its members not to acce ... read more

Bird Flu Still a Threat to the Shooting Sector

Although the current outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) or bird flu has waned considerably the shooting sector must not become complacent, warns Dominic Boulton, Game Sector Representative on the Govern ... read more

Transfer of Assurance Scheme to Aim to Sustain Finalised

The recently announced transfer of the BGA Assurance scheme to Aim to Sustain has now been completed and henceforth the scheme will be operated and administered by Aim to Sustain and an Assurance Advi ... read more

DEFRA confirms renewal of General Licences for the control of Pest Birds

DEFRA has recently confirmed to the GFA and others that they intend to renew the current GL 40, GL 41 & GL 42 for the control of pest bird species and these new licences will replicate the conditi ... read more

Management of game assurance scheme transferring from BGA to Aim to Sustain

The infrastructure of the assurance scheme built by British Game Assurance (BGA) will be transferred to Aim to Sustain (A2S), it was announced today (Monday October 16th).   The transfer should ... read more