221.Section 39 repeals various provisions which impose requirements to be licensed to deal in venison. Under the 1996 Act scheme of provisions, anyone who sold venison was required to hold a license to deal in venison. The process by which a license was granted and managed was set out in section 33. License holders were required to keep records for a period of 3 years, including purchases and receipts of venison (section 34). Section 35 concerned reciprocal arrangements between venison dealers or between venison and game dealers and section 36 made it an offence to sell, offer or expose for sale or have in possession or cause to be transported for sale venison unless the person had a license.
222.Section 39(4) to (7) repeals sections 33 to 36. Subsection (2) repeals references to section 36 in section 27(5) of the 1996 Act, subsection (8) repeals references to sections 33 to 36 in section 43 of the 1996 Act and subsection (9) repeals penalties associated with sections 33 to 36 in schedule 3 of the 1996 Act. Finally, subsection (10) changes the title of Part IV from “Enforcement, licensing of venison dealing and miscellaneous provisions” to “Enforcement and miscellaneous provisions” to better reflect what the Part is now doing.
223.Section 16 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (the relevant interpretation act for the 1996 Act) applies, meaning the operation of sections 33 to 36 is saved in respect of events that occur before these repeals come into effect. For example, this will mean that although records will no longer have to be created under section 34, records in existence at the time that the repeals come into effect should be retained.
The Act Licensing of dealing in venison Section 39 – Removal of requirements related to licensing to deal in venison