Deer farmers are demanding access to EU subsidies which they claim are allowing rivals to flood the Scottish market with cheap venison.
They are unhappy the Scottish government has denied them permission to claim grants totalling £200,000-a-year under the Single Farm Payments while the subsidies are available to competitors in England, France and Germany.
The Federation of European Deer Farmers' Associations has raised the issue with the European Commission, which has ruled that Scottish deer farmers should be entitled to the subsidy if there is evidence they are being "disadvantaged".
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Dr John Fletcher, a spokesman for the federation, said: "We feel we are being treated very badly. Our counterparts are being heavily subsidised yet Scottish deer farmers are denied support by the Scottish government despite repeated reassurance from Brussels that there is a mechanism for payment to us.
"Deer is an iconic Scottish mammal but most venison on supermarket shelves comes from New Zealand and England. The government is making strenuous efforts not to apply for the money because it fears setting a precedent."
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Among those affected is Grant Harris, who has bred deer on his 100-acre farm in Glenmoriston, Inverness, for almost 30 years.
"It is becoming increasingly difficult to survive. The prices of fertiliser and winter feed have gone up astronomically," he said.
"The single farm payment subsidy would allow the business to continue because we are on the brink of closure. Quite a few others in Scotland are in a similar position. It's a scandal."
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The Scottish government said a full review of the SFP, including farmers' eligibility, would be conducted, with a report next year.