BASC stands against new EU restrictions on lead shot

[Conor O'Gorman]

BASC will fight the European Union’s latest restrictions on lead shot to ensure the UK’s five-year voluntary transition to sustainable ammunition is not impeded.

BASC has described the EU’s restrictions, which were voted through today (3 September), as ‘utterly unenforceable’ and a risk to the voluntary transition taken forward by the main shooting organisations and supported by Defra.

The EU REACH committee voted for a restriction of lead shot over wetlands that when enacted would see a buffer zone of 100m around any body of water, no matter the size, and all peatlands.

The regulation will now be put forward for approval and ratified at the latest by the beginning of 2021 and then take effect at the beginning of 2023 in EU member states.

The UK government may decide to adopt the regulation in 2023 depending on how it decides to legislate for REACH related laws. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland already have restrictions in place to mitigate the impact of lead shot on water birds.

Dr Matt Ellis, BASC’s head of science and chair of the FACE ammunition working group, said: “We are supportive of the current legislation in the UK regarding the use of lead shot over wetlands. The new EU restrictions are utterly unenforceable and places shooters at risk of criminality if they fail to spot a puddle in the field. No side should be celebrating bad law. BASC will be lobbying the UK government not to adopt this regulation.

“This is a clear sign of the EU’s intent with regards to restricting the use of lead, and with a full lead shot restriction next on the agenda, the pressure has never been higher.

“All our actions are focused on ensuring that moves in Europe do not compromise the UK shooting community’s plans for a five-year transition to sustainable ammunition and future.”

Read more here:

BASC stands against new EU restrictions on lead shot - BASC

The EU’s restrictions are unenforceable and risk the voluntary transition taken forward by the main shooting organisations and supported by Defra.

basc.org.uk

For more context read a previous BASC update here:

Voting shelved on Europe-wide lead shot ban - BASC

BASC continues to support a five year transition away from lead shot for live quarry shooting following an attempted wider ban on lead shot.

basc.org.uk

 

[FrenchieBoy]

It's all well and good for Dr Matt Ellis to say that it is ‘utterly unenforceable’ but what all shooters need is for ALL UK Shooting Organisations to do everything they can to make sure that this point is put over - And put over in no uncertain manner!
I may be wrong but I do wonder if UK shooters are in this current position because none of the shooting organisations fought this issue hard enough earlier!

 

[Tugmanade]

I like the wording “the UK’s 5 year voluntary transition“ I thought it was certain shooting organizations that volunteered for the voluntary transition.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

It's all well and good for Dr Matt Ellis to say that it is ‘utterly unenforceable’ but what all shooters need is for ALL UK Shooting Organisations to do everything they can to make sure that this point is put over - And put over in no uncertain manner!
I may be wrong but I do wonder if UK shooters are in this current position because none of the shooting organisations fought this issue hard enough earlier!

BASC has been fighting against disproportionate and unsubstantiated restrictions on the use of lead ammunition for 40 years.

The UK shooting organisations have limited lobbying power because our MEPs have left their positions due to Brexit.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

I like the wording “the UK’s 5 year voluntary transition“ I thought it was certain shooting organizations that volunteered for the voluntary transition.

Which shooting organisation (s) are you a member of?

 

[FrenchieBoy]

BASC has been fighting against disproportionate and unsubstantiated restrictions on the use of lead ammunition for 40 years.

The UK shooting organisations have limited lobbying power because our MEPs have left their positions due to Brexit.

Fair enough Connor. I was merely stating my own line of thought!
Edit: I ought to add that I no longer shoot any more so it does not effect me but i do follow and support those who do shoot!

 

[pitnie]

Connor who else did you ask to stand with you? CA, SGA ETC.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Connor who else did you ask to stand with you? CA, SGA ETC.

On European level policy issues FACE-UK members work together. The current FACE-UK members are:

• BASC
• British Falconers’ Club
• British Shooting Sports Council
• Countryside Alliance
• Game Farmers Association
• Moorland Association
• National Gamekeepers Organisation

 

[Tugmanade]

organisation

NGO

 

[Dunwaters]

The E U wants to ban the use of lead shot period, that's why the regulations are so obscure and open to interpretation.
Bad news is it's going to happen because the vast majority of people don't hunt or shoot and can't see any reason why you'd need or want to scatter a toxic element over the environment and into your food when there are alternatives available.
I'm not saying that the alternatives are as good as lead or as affordable, just that they're available.
I don't think it's a winnable argument, particularly since there's already a partial ban in place.

 

[Warren79]

Isn't the point of leaving the eu that we don't have to follow there crap anymore?

 

[Jon P]

Isn't the point of leaving the eu that we don't have to follow there crap anymore?

Anything to do with Food or Agriculture will have to be the same as mainland or we won’t be able to export any UK produce.

 

[Apthorpe]

Isn't the point of leaving the eu that we don't have to follow there crap anymore?

Who needs the EU, when our own organisations are so eager to invent stupid and impossible restrictions?

 

[Apthorpe]

Anything to do with Food or Agriculture will have to be the same as mainland or we won’t be able to export any UK produce.

This is true, but our total global agricultural export amounts to very little value indeed, and in fact, a considerable portion of that is probably re-export of imported goods. A "no deal" in that area is not of major importance to farmers. It is of major importance to a number of large companies which produce processed food.

 

[Jon P]

This is true, but our total global agricultural export amounts to very little value indeed, and in fact, a considerable portion of that is probably re-export of imported goods. A "no deal" in that area is not of major importance to farmers. It is of major importance to a number of large companies which produce processed food.

Sheep farmers in Wales May dispute that the export of lambs is not important to them, I also know that a friend who I help with culling deer has been told by is game dealer that once the export starts up again on deer carcasses that no lead is to be used on deer , not even head shot deer. If mainland EU jumps, we have to do.

 

[kes]

"BASC has been fighting against disproportionate and unsubstantiated restrictions on the use of lead ammunition for 40 years".

Not really in accord with subsequent statements - as the phrase" unsubstantiated restrictions" would not prompt a voluntary ban for "no apparent reason", or is it just me making a false interpretation of the English here ? Maybe a voluntary ban seemed like a good idea to all those names above but it doesnt chime with "40 years" ?

I cant remember the detail of the Czech intervention we have talked about but maybe someone can bring it to mind.

 

[Apthorpe]

Sheep farmers in Wales May dispute that the export of lambs is not important to them, I also know that a friend who I help with culling deer has been told by is game dealer that once the export starts up again on deer carcasses that no lead is to be used on deer , not even head shot deer. If mainland EU jumps, we have to do.

The trade statistics indicated that lamb exported to the EU earns about £1 per kg to farmers and processors combined, and about 25% more when exported to the gulf states - a market increasing at over 16 times the rate of the EU market. The size of the market in question is well under 0.005% of the economy. This is not a significant economic activity, consisting of fewer people, and less money, than those who would be inconvenienced by crackpot restrictions.
The UK shooting market is more valuable to the economy than all our agricultural exports combined. In economic terms, you're very clearly wrong. In political terms, then officials may well be too accustomed to bending over to take it from the French and Germans.

 

[Jon P]

The trade statistics indicated that lamb exported to the EU earns about £1 per kg to farmers and processors combined, and about 25% more when exported to the gulf states - a market increasing at over 16 times the rate of the EU market. The size of the market in question is well under 0.005% of the economy. This is not a significant economic activity, consisting of fewer people, and less money, than those who would be inconvenienced by crackpot restrictions.
The UK shooting market is more valuable to the economy than all our agricultural exports combined. In economic terms, you're very clearly wrong. In political terms, then officials may well be too accustomed to bending over to take it from the French and Germans.

Irrespective of how much an individual farmer is getting per kg for sheep, the UK will always follow the EU for trade, And some farmers rely on the export market, lamb trade in the U.K. is very good at present as limited imports of NZ lamb , I was a supporter to leave the EU, but I have always known that our legislators will mirror the EU trade legislation. This will continue, if you like it or not

 

[Apthorpe]

Irrespective of how much an individual farmer is getting per kg for sheep, the UK will always follow the EU for trade, And some farmers rely on the export market, lamb trade in the U.K. is very good at present as limited imports of NZ lamb , I was a supporter to leave the EU, but I have always known that our legislators will mirror the EU trade legislation. This will continue, if you like it or not

That's a statement of faith, not a statement of reason. It may turn out to be correct, but there is currently no reason to think that it will. The betting odds are in favour of no deal to mirror EU trade legislation, so there's an easy way to make yourself a Christmas bonus.
Doubtless there will be some last-minute wrangling, but it's certainly not safe to assume anything.

 

[kes]

For what its worth, maybe nothing, China are a booming and expanding trade partner for pork and lamb from the UK. I checked last year and a number of local farmers are shipping out refrigerated container loads to China, hopefully the volume will increase as the EU imposes its 'limits' from simple childishness. I wonder where they will get their fish ?