Proposal to ban lead for hunting and fishing altogether
The European Chemicals Agency proposes to ban shotgun cartridges, rifle bullets and fishing weights using lead in five years.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has today published its proposal for additional restrictions on the use of lead in ammunition for hunting, outdoor sports and fishing. Its report and its annex conclude that restrictions would be justified on the basis of risks to the environment and human health. The European Commission (EC) requested ECHA to prepare these proposals in July 2019.
With regard to lead sold and used in hunting, sport shooting and other outdoor shooting, ECHA proposes the following:
1. Sale and use of lead in hunting, sport shooting and other outdoor shooting:
- Ban on the sale and use of lead ammunition (with a five-year transition period). As the current Olympic rules specify the use of lead ammunition for certain disciplines, ECHA also considered an optional derogation for the use of lead ammunition for sport shooting only under strict conditions, i.e. when emissions to the environment are minimised.
- Ban on the use of lead in bullets and other projectiles (small calibre: five years; large calibre: 18-month transition periods). Exceptions for continued use if emissions to the environment are minimised, i.e. when sport shooting ranges are equipped with bullet traps.
2. Lead sold and used in fisheries:
- Ban on the sale and use of lead sinkers and lures (with transition periods depending on weight: ≤ 50 g three years; > 50 g five years).
Lead rifle bullets banned within five years
For the ban on the use of lead in rifle bullets ECHA proposes two transition periods: 18 months for any centrefire calibre equal to or larger than 5.6 mm and five years for centrefire calibres smaller than 5.6 mm (and rimfire in general).
ECHA proposes exemptions for continued use if emissions to the environment are minimised, i.e. when sport shooting ranges are equipped with bullet traps that collect lead.
Police and military use of lead would remain in force
The prohibitionist proposals would however not affect military and other non-civilian uses of lead ammunition, such as police, security forces and customs. Indoor uses of lead ammunition are also excluded.
Today's proposals come just a week after the publication of the lead restriction on wetlands under REACH, having received only 52% support from Members of the European Parliament, with some opposition at Council level.
The European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) is evaluating these new proposals carefully and will actively follow the decision-making process.
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