UK government finally introduces new restrictions on lead ammunition
New restrictions on the sale and use of lead ammunition have been laid before Parliament and come into force in England, Wales and Scotland today.
Photo by Gary Bendig on Unsplash
The use of lead ammunition results in an estimated 7,000 tonnes of lead being released into the British environment every year, threatening the health and costing the lives of countless wild and domestic animals who ingest it, particularly waterfowl, and the natural predators who feed on the carcasses of the victims.
The new restrictions, which come into effect today, 1st April 2026, come on the back of years of campaigning by both environmental and animal welfare groups and will introduce:
- A ban on the sale and use of lead shot for live‑quarry shooting and most forms of target shooting, coming fully into force on 1 April 2029 after a transition period; and
- Limits on lead content in bullets, with shot containing more than 1% lead and bullets with more than 3% lead no longer permitted for public sale.
Narrow exemptions will permit elite competitive shooters to continue using lead ammunition alongside strict environmental protections.
Welcoming the news, Born Free’s Head of Policy Dr Mark Jones said: “At Born Free we have campaigned alongside our partner organisations for many years for a total ban on the use of lead ammunition. The new regulations finally mark a recognition by the government of the need to tackle this long‑standing and well‑documented threat to wild animals, ecosystems, and even human health. The restrictions can’t come into force a moment too soon.”
From Born Free’s perspective, this is a landmark moment for animal welfare and environmental justice.
Lead ammunition has long been a silent killer. Tens of thousands of water birds are thought to die each year across the UK from ingesting lead on the environment, and scavenging birds like red kites and white‑tailed eagles, as well as mammals such as foxes, ingest fragments from carcasses, leading to poisoning, impaired reproduction, and in some cases death. Lead also accumulates in soil and water, affecting everything from invertebrates to mammals.
The new restrictions offer a safer future for many species and a safer environment for all.
Born Free celebrates this progress while continuing to advocate for full implementation, strong enforcement, and an ongoing commitment to phasing out harmful practices.