Steeling ourselves for the lead shot ban

BASC has actively opposed restrictions on lead ammunition since they were first recommended in a 1983 Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution report. In 1999 the UK Government signed up to the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement. All countries ratifying the international treaty agreed to implement various conservation measures to help waterbirds and that included phasing out the use of lead shot in wetlands.

Consequently, various restrictions to reduce the risk of wildfowl ingesting lead shot were introduced in England (1999 and 2003), Wales (2001), Scotland (2004) and Northern Ireland (2009). From circa 2017 moves were afoot in the EU for wider lead shot bans.

Brexit looked to provide the UK with refuge against the EU move away from lead shot. However, this was short-lived because the UK Government created regulations for the control of chemicals mirroring EU regulations. This ensured seamless continued EU-UK trade.

The legislative direction for a lead shot ban was clear. There were a growing number of viable alternatives for shotguns becoming available in the UK and overseas markets. Furthermore, the science was clear and could no longer be credibly argued against. Lead shot ingestion was not only a threat to waterbirds in wetlands but also in terrestrial habitats. Research evidenced widespread lead shot ingestion for many non-waterfowl species, including various species of grouse, partridge, pigeon and dove.

The announcement by nine organisations including BASC in February 2020 encouraging a voluntary move away from lead shot for all live quarry shooting was a difficult but necessary change in direction.

UK REACH and regulatory change

In 2021 the UK REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulations kicked in for England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland continues to be subject to EU REACH. A review of lead ammunition by the Health and Safety Executive was announced. This mirrored the process initiated a year earlier in the EU by the European Chemicals Agency.

Consultations

Following two public consultations that circa 11,000 shooters responded to, the outcome is a ban on the use of lead shot for live quarry and target shooting from 1 April 2029 for England, Wales and Scotland, with limited exemptions for some sales and uses.

During the four-year review, BASC argued that clay shooting on approved ranges should be allowed where the environmental risks posed by lead shot could be controlled. However, these arguments were negated by concerns about people abusing such an exemption to unlawfully use lead shot to shoot birds. This was evidenced by consistent widespread non-compliance with the existing lead shot regulations spanning two decades.

The only exemption that will be permitted for the sale and use of lead shot for recreational shooting after 1 April 2029 will be for elite athletes competing in Olympic or Paralympic disciplines (about 50 people), subject to a strict licensing regime.

What the 2029 lead shot ban means

By the time the lead shot ban comes in, it will have been eight years since the voluntary transition was announced. Therefore, the cliff edge of a sudden lead shot ban has been avoided, though manufacturing challenges lie ahead given world events.

Coastal wildfowlers adapted some 20 years ago with far less choice than now. Most shooters making the change more recently have found that alternatives such as steel shot perform better than lead on clays and live quarry when the patterning homework has been done to find the most suitable cartridge and range for the gun being used.

If you are sceptical, contact your local BASC office to find out more. BASC can visit your club or syndicate. They are regularly holding workshops for people to try lead alternatives in their own shotguns. There will be an article in the next issue focusing on forthcoming restrictions impacting rifle ammunition. A detailed FAQ is available at https://basc.org.uk