Major win for Great Britain: lead ammunition will be banned in outdoor shooting!

Each year, an estimated 7,000 tonnes of lead are released into the UK countryside, causing the deaths of up to 100,000 waterbirds, including swans, ducks, and wading birds. The new restrictions, announced on July 10, 2025 and set to take effect from 2026, will ban shot containing more than 1% lead and bullets with a lead content of over 3%. A three-year transition period has been included to give the shooting and hunting sectors time to switch to more environmentally friendly alternatives.

This landmark decision is the culmination of decades of dedicated work by our BirdLife Partner RSPB, alongside WWT, Wildlife and Countryside Link, CHEM Trust, and Wild Justice. Back in January, the coalition sent an open letter to UK Environment Secretary Steve Reed, urging a transition period of no more than 18 months. Their call was backed by 15,000 public responses demanding a swift and comprehensive ban.

RSPB Chief Operating Officer Dr James Robinson said:

“Long known to be a poison, we have campaigned for decades to have lead ammunition removed from use. Lead is a significant problem for nature conservation, impacting the environment and the health of a large number of wild birds, with estimates of up to a hundred thousand individuals dying each year from poisoning. This move, whilst long overdue and stopping short of a full ban, will mean that Britain will become a safer place for millions of birds and other wildlife.”

While this decision was made in Great Britain, the EU REACH Committee is still debating the European Commission’s proposal to ban lead ammunition and fishing weights across Europe.

Barbara Herrero, Senior Nature Conservation Policy Officer at BirdLife Europe, says:

“England, Scotland, and Wales are showing the way in banning harmful lead from ammunition, proving it can be done when there is a strong political will. EU countries must now follow suit, finalise the discussions on the proposal, and adopt a strong restriction as soon as possible. The science is clear and knows no borders: lead is toxic. The EU must act now to protect everyone’s health, wildlife and nature.”

This historic ban on lead ammunition in Great Britain sets a powerful precedent for other nations to follow. Protecting nature from toxic pollutants is both urgent and achievable. The path towards ending lead poisoning is now clearer than ever.

Cover picture by Yves Adams