Lead the way

FOLLOWING a Cambridge University study last month—which showed that almost all pheasant in the UK market still contains lead shot, despite the pledge, made a year ago by nine shooting organisations, to stop using it— Defra is considering a ban and, last week, requested a two-year review and consultation. The move is a reflection of the Government’s chemical-restriction programme UK Reach.

Prof Rhys Green, who conducted the study, points out that although the ‘concentration of lead in many foods has been limited by an EU directive… game-meat products are not included’. The WWT estimates that up to 100,000 wildfowl die each year from ingesting lead in pellets, with a further 200,000–400,000 wildfowl and predators suffering negative health impacts.

In February 2020, the GWCT, CLA, British Game Alliance, Moorland Association, BASC, National Gamekeepers’ Organisation, Scottish Land & Estates, Countryside Alliance and the Scottish Association for Country Sports began a five-year transition to alternatives such as steel, bismuth and tungsten. Since then, a GWCT survey found that 53% have already used alternatives or will do so this year and BASC research found that 70% understood the importance of phasing out lead ammunition. But it’s not a simple process.

‘If the Government wishes to speed up the transition, it might consider an amnesty scheme for those stuck with a supply of lead cartridges,’ suggests the GWCT’S Dr Alastair Leake. ‘Recycling lead is energy efficient and conserves natural resources.’ There is also concern about the damage that steel-shot cartridges (the cheapest alternative) could do to barrels; the GWCT will undertake a survey in the summer. Then there’s the matter of supply. We need ‘effective and affordable types of sustainable ammunition… in sufficient volumes,’ explains BASC’S Conor O’gorman, currently ‘a significant challenge’ for manufacturers both at home and abroad.

Urgency heightens as the EU is expected to ban imports of game shot with lead; currently, 60% of British game is exported to Europe. The Eu-wide ban on lead shot over wetlands did not come into force before Brexit, so doesn’t apply here, and, although lead shot is banned in England for shooting duck and geese and in sensitive areas, a 2008–10 Defra study showed 70% of ducks were still shot with lead.

The Environment Agency’s consultation ‘must avoid the failure of the EU Reach process, which failed to listen to the shooting, land management, conservation and farming communities and produced unreasonable and unworkable regulations,’ says BASC chief executive Ian Bell. ‘Continued engagement… [would] ensure any proposals are proportionate, feasible and enforceable as well as recognising the significant investment and time required.’