'Delays mean deaths - ban toxic lead ammunition now', experts urge government
Environmental charities and campaigners insist there is still time for the government to save thousands of waterbirds from needless and painful deaths despite another delay on the decision to ban toxic lead ammunition.
Steve Reed, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was expected to announce a decision on the future of lead ammunition on Thursday 13 March, but this deadline has been missed.
It follows a three-month review of long-delayed recommendations on the use of lead ammunition published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in December 2024.
Dr Julia Newth, an expert on the impact of lead on birds at WWT, said:
“In what has been a string of endless delays, this was the government’s chance to stand on the side of wildlife and choose a lead-free future – and yet, we’re still waiting for a decision.
“More delays will mean more unnecessary deaths. Ending the era of lead is in all of our interests and there’s still time for the government to show it is prepared to take this historic opportunity to rid society of toxic lead ammunition once and for all.”
Just last month, research by Cambridge University revealed five years of promises to phase out the toxic lead shot had failed spectacularly, despite industry pledges to comply.
WWT, the charity for wetlands and wildlife, has been leading a coalition of charities and parliamentarians urging the government to bring in a full and swift ban of lead ammunition.
Earlier this year WWT, RSPB, Wildlife and Countryside Link, CHEM Trust and Wild Justice penned an open letter to Steve Reed calling for a transition period towards a full ban of lead shot of no more than 18 months.
Separate letters were sent to the respective Welsh and Scottish environment secretaries, who will play a key role in the final decision.
Following this, more than 14,000 people wrote to the Secretary of State calling for a swift and full ban on lead ammunition.
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said:
“Toxic lead has been poisoning our environment and wildlife for far too long, so it’s disappointing that Government has missed the deadline to respond to recommendations to ban it in ammunition.
“This would have been the first chemical ban or restriction the UK implemented since leaving the EU, compared to ten implemented on the continent. As the gap between the UK and EU on chemical safety gets ever bigger, we hope that ministers will get back on track, with a rapid ban on lead ammunition and alignment with the EU on the other toxic chemicals polluting UK waters, communities and wildlife.”
The RSPB’s Director of Conservation, Katie-Jo Luxton, said:
“The case for ending toxic lead ammunition is clear. Shooting organisations themselves committed to phasing it out by 2025, so now is the time to act. We need swift action to ban lead, ensuring regulation follows urgently. With a legally binding target to halt species decline by 2030, the UK Government has a chance to eliminate a major threat with immediate effect.”
Dr Anna Watson, Director of Policy and Advocacy at CHEM Trust said:
“This gives an alarming picture of how difficult it is to regulate harmful substances in the UK, now we have left the EU. The Government should ban toxic lead in ammunition to prevent the needless poisoning of tens of thousands of waterbirds.
“Our chemical regulatory system needs to get back on track to protect people and wildlife from harmful chemicals. The UK should adopt a strategic policy of matching or exceeding EU bans and other controls on harmful chemicals. This is the pragmatic way to prevent the long-term harm that will be caused by continuing with the current sluggish and inadequate approach.”
Dr Ruth Tingay, Co-Director of Wild Justice said:
"The Secretary of State has many difficult decisions to make. This isn't one of them. Does he want to protect wildlife, the environment and people from the poisonous effects of toxic lead ammunition, knowing that there are suitable alternatives readily available? The answer should be a quick, easy and resounding "YES". How hard can it be?"
Lead is toxic and has been poisoning our countryside for decades, as a result of lead ammunition pellets discarded from shooting. Every year, 7,000 tonnes – about the weight of the Eiffel Tower – of poisonous lead is scattered into our environment.
