This month, the European Commission made another revision to its legal proposal restricting lead in ammunition under the EU’s REACH Regulation. One of the most significant changes is that the transition period for the use of lead shot in hunting with shotguns has been extended from three years to five years.

This change reflects continued concerns raised by Member States regarding the practical, economic, geopolitical, and logistical implications of the proposed measures.

The next REACH Committee meeting takes place on 29 April, where Member States are expected to continue discussions on the revised draft. A vote on the proposal in the REACH Committee is expected in the coming months, after which the file will move to the European Parliament for scrutiny.

FACE continues to closely monitor this important regulatory file, which remains highly significant for Europe’s 7 million hunters and the wider hunting and shooting sector.

The revised legal proposal can be accessed here: https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/comitology-register/screen/documents/105447/6