GUNTRADEINSIDER.COM AUGUST 2025
THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE GUN TRADE ASSOCIATION
Transition times will vary, but the key restriction, covering lead shot for shotguns, will come into force after a three-year transition period. This is shorter than the five years previously recommended by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Under the proposed rules, ammunition containing more than 1% lead in shot or more than 3% lead in bullets will no longer be sold to the public, with the exception of lead rimfire, airgun ammunition and calibres smaller than .243, which are not included in the restriction.
Exemptions will also apply for military and police use, elite sports shooting, museum collections, and target shooting at permanent outdoor ranges with approved risk management systems.
Larger calibre lead bullets will be restricted, but may still be used for target shooting if the range has an appropriate lead recycling system in place. Ammunition exceeding the stated lead content thresholds will also require specific labelling.
Airguns and small calibre bullets used for live quarry shooting, including .22LR and .223 Rem, will remain outside the scope of the restrictions. The Government acknowledged that enforcing a ban on airgun pellets would be impractical and that non-lead rimfire alternatives are currently not considered humane or technically viable.
With the three-year transition period now confirmed, the industry will be expected to adopt alternatives such as steel, copper, tungsten and bismuth-based ammunition.
According to Defra, the policy is being introduced due to the well-documented risks lead poses to wildlife and human health. Government figures suggest that as many as 100,000 wildfowl die each year as a result of ingesting lead shot, with an estimated 40,000 birds of prey also at risk through secondary exposure. Lead residues are also known to contaminate soil and waterways, entering food chains.
In response to the policy, the Gun Trade Association has established a dedicated working group on lead and produced an initial report analysing the likely impact of the proposed measures. The GTA’s report raises concerns about the shortened transition period, the affordability and availability of non-lead materials, and the need for further clarity around enforcement and product certification.
Stephen Jolly, chief executive of the Gun Trade Association, commented: “The GTA was instrumental in getting airgun pellets and .22 rimfire exempted from the ban. However, while we understand the rationale for lead restrictions in general, the shortening of the transition period is deeply unhelpful. It is likely to prove problematic for ammunition manufacturers whose job is to provide safe and practical solutions for shooters.
The prohibitive cost of critical metals at this time renders use of tungsten or bismuth uneconomic. The interactions between barrels, steel shot and biodegradable wads are complex and require further work. Providing a viable alternative to lead within the timeframe proposed will be difficult, but I have every confidence our world-class ammunition manufacturers will rise to the challenge.”
Jeremy Hinde, secretary of the British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC), also expressed concern: “The BSSC welcomes the overdue publication of the report on lead in ammunition, as we were heavily involved in the consultation that preceded it. However, the Council has real concerns about the reduction in implementation time from five years to three. Additionally, there remain some concerns for some areas of shooting sports where no realistic viable alternative to lead can be found. The BSSC and its members will look forward to engaging with Defra over the next few months in order to ensure that the legislation proposed is both a suitable and proportionate response.”
Frédéric Pavat, directeur commercial at French cartridge manufacturer Cheddite, who sits on the GTA lead working group, questioned the scientific justification for the policy: “Your UK agencies are arguing that the consumption of venison presents a high risk to human health. Yet not a single verified scientific survey has been conducted, and no proof has been provided so far.
In France, we have one million hunters. Their families and friends all eat venison. If lead contamination really were a major public health risk, we should be seeing widespread cases of lead poisoning. But the French High Authority of Health has never reported a single case linked to the consumption of game meat.”
Gun Trade Insider will continue to report on the legislation’s progress and its impact on the UK shooting sector in future issues.