EU ban on lead ammunition for airguns, shotguns and rifles

[Conor O'Gorman]

Conor, I asked for information regarding the progress of the 5 year voluntary transition program, now in year 4 and rapidly approaching its end date. I understand and accept the principals guiding the introduction of the program.
I would like to know how successful it has been so far and how the success or failure of the program is being measured and how much it’s costing.


Under the circumstances I regard this question as a bit of a red herring, however, just in case it’s not….
We have banned the use of lead shot over “ wetlands” using the EU definition. We have also banned it in the upland national parks and SSIA areas, this was achieved through a Ministerial order.
As yet our national organisations have not reacted to the rejection of the lead ban by other countries within the EU.
Enforcement of the regulations is virtually non existent and probably not possible due to the way they are worded.
For example, if I drive to my local clay ground, I cross 2 stream’s which are designated wetlands. Under the terms of the order, I cannot legally have lead shotted cartridges in my possession while crossing the wetlands, not even in the boot of my car.
No one has been charged with possession of lead shot cartridges anywhere so far.

Thanks, other than a statement from ISSF a few weeks ago, the article from Euractive.com shared a few days ago, I have not seen any updates whether from ROI or elsewhere in EU. As regards the UK voluntary transition away from lead shot for live quarry shooting the first 5 years was February 2025 and it is ongoing. The shooting organisations and have been encouraging the transition in many ways. A particular focus of BASC has been running workshops for people to try lead alternatives in their guns and thousands have been on these workshops over the years. The next workshop is on 13 June in Norfolk Try Sustainable Ammunition- Norfolk

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Thanks, other than a statement from ISSF a few weeks ago, the article from Euractive.com shared a few days ago, I have not seen any updates whether from ROI or elsewhere in EU. As regards the UK voluntary transition away from lead shot for live quarry shooting the first 5 years was February 2025 and it is ongoing. The shooting organisations and have been encouraging the transition in many ways. A particular focus of BASC has been running workshops for people to try lead alternatives in their guns and thousands have been on these workshops over the years. The next workshop is on 13 June in Norfolk Try Sustainable Ammunition- Norfolk

An EU ban update from March I missed is here:

EU Commission presents a proposal to restrict lead in ammunition for sport shooters and hunters

EU Commission presents draft for lead ban**Restriction of lead in hunting and sporting ammunition**Transition periods and exemptions**

www.all4shooters.com

 

[spanj]

My understanding is Starmer has effectively just reversed Brexit.
He agreed Dynamic Alignment with the EU earlier this month.
Effectively we are now mandated to follow EU legislation, both existing and new for the next 12 years.
Some call it surrender, I call it treachery.
He's knowingly reversed one of the key outcomes of the referendum.
M

Hopefully the 52% will remember this come the general election

 

[Liveonce]

Some good points made in this article, which are also relevant to the U.K. but ignored by the HSE.

ISSF: shooting ranges are at risk

EU lead ban** European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) ** Statement from ISSF President** hunting and shooting sports association against lead ban, EU regulations

www.all4shooters.com

 

[Woodenbeam]

An EU ban update from March I missed is here:

EU Commission presents a proposal to restrict lead in ammunition for sport shooters and hunters

EU Commission presents draft for lead ban**Restriction of lead in hunting and sporting ammunition**Transition periods and exemptions**

www.all4shooters.com

Surely this is now an out of date reference (typical of previous postings I will say)
Unless I’m mistaken this has now been well & truely superseded by the announcement in post #523 with EU countries sticking two fingers up to the lead ban

 

[timbrayford]

At that time I worked for BASC and the cartridge manufacturers were consulted so we shall have to agree to disagree and maybe one day someone will write their memoirs covering that time and all the details will emerge. As for the voluntary transition, its ongoing and this continues to be a collaborative effort spanning cartridge manufacturers, estates, retailers, and thousands of shooters. BASC has supported this through Sustainable Ammunition Days, webinars, and close work with the gun trade to provide expert advice on compatibility and safety.

Compatibility and safety? Rather implies that the proposed lead replacements are not so, otherwise this advice would be superfluous?

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Surely this is now an out of date reference (typical of previous postings I will say)
Unless I’m mistaken this has now been well & truely superseded by the announcement in post #523 with EU countries sticking two fingers up to the lead ban

That article gives a good overview of the background and process so far. As regards the recent debate in the AOB part of an EU agriculture and fisheries council, yes that was encouraging that 12 member spoke out against the proposals under EU REACH, and more may follow, but its important to note that the key debates on the proposals will be via the EU REACH committee.

 

[Ruger#1]

At that time I worked for BASC and the cartridge manufacturers were consulted so we shall have to agree to disagree and maybe one day someone will write their memoirs covering that time and all the details will emerge

Rather than wait for some random unknown to write their memoirs as you put it why not simply name the cartridge manufacturers that were consulted when you were employed by BASC. Surely that would show conclusively the extent of the consultation carried out prior to the voluntary ban statement.

 

[terrier1]

Rather than wait for some random unknown to write their memoirs as you put it why not simply name the cartridge manufacturers that were consulted when you were employed by BASC. Surely that would show conclusively the extent of the consultation carried out prior to the voluntary ban statement.

NO answer then Conor you normally love to copy and paste all sorts of stuff surely there's some evidence that BASC contacted the cartridge companies if you say its true.
In the statement above it states.

Firstly, BASC and their fellow organisations had NO consultation with the UK cartridge manufacturers prior to the announcement being made.
Come on Conor the truth is out there.

 

[palmer_mike]

NO answer then Conor you normally love to copy and paste all sorts of stuff surely there's some evidence that BASC contacted the cartridge companies if you say its true.
In the statement above it states.

Firstly, BASC and their fellow organisations had NO consultation with the UK cartridge manufacturers prior to the announcement being made.
Come on Conor the truth is out there.

It’s a well known tactic called ‘deny, distract, deflect’
Used by politicians and others seeking to distance themselves from blame or responsibility.

 

[enfieldspares]

The Marford Mill "Rules of Debate":

1) First try "A big boy did it. And then he ran away"
or
2) If that doesn't work then do as Humpty Dumpty.

 

[timbrayford]

If the HSE/BASC are so keen on getting rid of lead shot they really ought to come up with something ballistically superior, doesn't require plastic wads, can be used in existing guns without modification/reservation and affordable. Promoting unsuitable steel shot merely brings both organisations into disrepute.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

BASC published the following update on 2 March 2020

BASC issues further statement on non-lead ammunition

I don't recall any further statements from cartridge manufacturers on this - and there has been an ongoing collaborative effort on the voluntary transition away from lead shot for live quarry shooting spanning manufacturers, estates, retailers, and thousands of shooters.

Leadership, rather than compliance

I appreciate that this topic is an emotive subject but the most recent comments in this thread above are deliberately aimed to be divisive by folk with various axes to grind, and such comments by a vocal minority are clearly not reflective of the majority of members of this forum.

Those that wish to dwell on the past and unwilling to move beyond their status quo - fair enough, that is your choice, for your interest in shooting and probably life in general - but perhaps respect that others feel differently, time does not stand still, neither for you or the many generations of shooters that came before you.

Perhaps now is the time to get behind your chosen shooting organisations and if you are a member of none change that today.

As for BASC, that is the organisation that is leading the way on protecting and promoting every aspect of shooting, and details on how to join are here:

Join

As a member of BASC you not only get all the help and support, you are also helping support our continued fight for sustainable shooting.

basc.org.uk

 

[timbrayford]

BASC published the following update on 2 March 2020

BASC issues further statement on non-lead ammunition

I don't recall any further statements from cartridge manufacturers on this - and there has been an ongoing collaborative effort on the voluntary transition away from lead shot for live quarry shooting spanning manufacturers, estates, retailers, and thousands of shooters.

Leadership, rather than compliance

I appreciate that this topic is an emotive subject but the most recent comments in this thread above are deliberately aimed to be divisive by folk with various axes to grind, and such comments by a vocal minority are clearly not reflective of the majority of members of this forum.

Those that wish to dwell on the past and unwilling to move beyond their status quo - fair enough, that is your choice, for your interest in shooting and probably life in general - but perhaps respect that others feel differently, time does not stand still, neither for you or the many generations of shooters that came before you.

Perhaps now is the time to get behind your chosen shooting organisations and if you are a member of none change that today.

As for BASC, that is the organisation that is leading the way on protecting and promoting every aspect of shooting, and details on how to join are here:

Join

As a member of BASC you not only get all the help and support, you are also helping support our continued fight for sustainable shooting.

basc.org.uk

I don't believe that its a matter of axes to grind so much as if lead is to be successfully replaced it needs to be with something that is clearly superior.

 

[Liveonce]

I don't believe that its a matter of axes to grind so much as if lead is to be successfully replaced it needs to be with something that is clearly superior.

And on par with fibre wads and affordable for all types of shooting not just game shooting, which is in reality a small part of shooting for a few months of the year.

 

[Ruger#1]

I appreciate that this topic is an emotive subject but the most recent comments in this thread above are deliberately aimed to be divisive by folk with various axes to grind, and such comments by a vocal minority are clearly not reflective of the majority of members of this forum.

Those that wish to dwell on the past and unwilling to move beyond their status quo - fair enough, that is your choice, for your interest in shooting and probably life in general - but perhaps respect that others feel differently, time does not stand still, neither for you or the many generations of shooters that came before you.

You state that views expressed are non representative and simply down to forum members with axes to grind yet the absence of what you claim is the majority view does not support that statement.The earlier posted statement from the cartridge manufacturers maintaining that there was no consultation with them prior to the voluntary ban statement that you responded to by stating that no such statement was made ,without offering any supporting evidence ,has no forum members speaking out in support of your claim for example.

Perhaps if you were to address the issues raised rather than relying on generalisations and copy and paste data ,that is frequently irrelevant to the subject being discussed ,there would be less opportunity for forum members to find fault in your posts. Inferring that critics are guilty of wishing to dwell in the past and unwilling to move beyond the status quo is hardly an adequate response to criticism that there seems to be little accountability taken for the failure to post with clarity and honesty in response to forum members concerns.
Rather than address those concerns you frequently rely on personal attack to discredit the opinions of forum members which at the same time conveniently deflects from the continual avoidance of any uncomfortable issues being raised.
By following a political agenda regarding the lead shot issue you have made a rod for your own back . Complaining that a backlash to that political agenda is rooted in a conspiracy to personally undermine you by a few trolls with nothing better to do with their time fails to acknowledge the true cause of disagreement with your posts. If as the voice of BASC you fail to acknowledge justifiable criticism then shooters will justifiably conclude that BASC is not listening and is falling short in its claim to be the voice of shooting. In order for BASC to gather support from sceptics it is going to have to address recent past issues rather than rely on negative images of its detractors being trolls incapable of moving shooting forward in the best interests of the next generation of shooters.

 

[old keeper]

Surely this is now an out of date reference (typical of previous postings I will say)
Unless I’m mistaken this has now been well & truely superseded by the announcement in post #523 with EU countries sticking two fingers up to the lead ban

An interesting point, that!
When I was a semi-commercial beekeeper some years ago, an EU ruling came in that all premises that sold honey on a commercial basis had to install adequate cleaning facilities. They then laid out what we had to do, hot water in the preparation room, stainless sinks and the list went on and on. We, like many English Beekeepers, complied. It's what we do in this country!

That same year, I went to a few European countries and visited several commercial beekeeping setups. None of which had complied with the new regulations. When I asked why, they said it would cost too much, and they had been doing things the same way for donkeys' years. It seemed they all said they would comply, but then did nothing!

 

[Stevie/P]

Honestly the europeans must be pointing their finger across the English Channel and having a right good laugh this once great nation has turned into a nanby-pamby state run by gut lees politician sissy’s British lions yeah right.

 

[timbrayford]

And on par with fibre wads and affordable for all types of shooting not just game shooting, which is in reality a small part of shooting for a few months of the year.

Good point , if lead is be replaced it needs to be something that top level competition shooters are confident in, no sign of steel at the Olympics yet is there?

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Back on topic, a note in relation to the AOB agenda item for the meeting of the “Agriculture and Fisheries” Council on 26 May 2025 as follows:

https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-9225-2025-INIT/en/pdf

I understand that the next EU REACH Committee meeting is scheduled for 25-26 June.