Let’s celebrate new EU ban on lead in gunshot
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Biodiversity - Flyways
After months of debates, the European Parliament finally rejected the objections from right-wing MEPs to the proposed ban on lead in gunshot.
Thanks to the impressive and sustained efforts of the #BanLeadNow coalition partners, led by BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, the attempts of MEPs sitting with the European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR) and the Patriots for Europe group (PfE) to oppose the proposal were defeated last Thursday 8 October. Lead in gunshot will be banned across the EU, the European Economic Area and Northern Ireland.
Back in 2023, a first ban on lead shot in wetlands had already entered into force but could hardly be enforced. This crucial October vote banning lead in gunshots – along with another ban on lead in certain fishing tackle adopted early July – will thus complement the EU framework to phase out lead pollution in the environment.
This is a really positive step forward: together, these restrictions shall prevent the poisoning of 135 million of birds, including waterbirds such as mallards, mute swans, Bewick’s swans or greater flamingos, as well as exposure of around 1 million children. We welcome this non-negligible win, which comes as a timely step to align the EU policy framework with existing scientific knowledge on lead exposure and poisoning risks.
Monitoring the implementation
Every year, more than 44.000 tones of lead are released in the environment in the EU, despite lead already being banned from most of its former uses (in pipes, paint or petrol). This is mainly the result of the maintained use of lead in ammunition, with gunshot being the main pollution source through the lead pellets each cartridge releases in nature.
This vote marks the beginning of a seven-year transition period until 2033, date after which lead in gunshot should finally be phased out from our environment. We will focus on implementation and enforcement, while, in parallel, carrying on our exchanges with the anglers’ and hunters’ communities to work toward the development of safer alternatives and policy solutions to the remaining sources of lead pollution, such as lead bullets and slugs, or the use of lead tackle in Europe. These loopholes leave numerous birds of prey and scavengers at risk of lead poisoning, while complexifying implementation and enforcement.
This year’s achievements towards a lead-free Union would not have been made possible without the #BanLeadNow campaign and partners, who carried the voice of over 60,000 citizens supporting phasing out lead in the EU.
We extend warm and feathery thanks to the wonderful colleagues from our member WWT, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Eurogroup for Animals, the Born Free Foundation, and the myriad of individuals from our memberships and networks, who supported campaign activities and were beyond thrilled to learn about the outcome of the votes on the proposal to ban lead in gunshot.
Learn more about the impacts of lead on humans, wildlife or pets on the #BanLeadNow website.