EU-kommisjonen går mot et fullstendig forbud mot bruk av bly ammunisjon over land til tross for protester fra jaktgrupper.
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) utarbeidet allerede i 2018 et utkast til forskrifter for å begrense bruken av bly i ammunisjon og fiske søker i miljøer som skog og fjell. Rapporten konkluderte med at det var tilstrekkelig nok bevis på at risikoen fra bly i søker og ammunisjon, til å rettferdiggjøre ny regulering.
SCI Europa jobber tett med kolleger i FACE for å sikre interessene til det Europeiske skytefellesskapet og ammunisjons produsentene. Det er fortsatt tid til at organisasjoner, produsenter og enkeltpersoner kan komme med innspill.
FACE, den europeiske paraplygruppen for jaktorganisasjoner, støtter ikke et generelt forbud mot bly i ammunisjon. Det heter i en uttalelse: “Fra FACE sitt perspektiv må ytterligere tiltak mot bly ammunisjon utover våtmarker være proporsjonale med den påviste risikoen for dyrelivet og menneskers helse via konsumering av viltkjøtt.”
Enkelte SCI chaptere i Europa ønsker å gå ennå lenger en FACE, og fjerne alle bly forbud. Vi i NSCC er enig med FACE i deres vurderinger, og tror de fleste jegerne i Europa kan leve godt med et bly forbud i våtmarks områder.
LEAD GUNSHOTS
In September 2018, ECHA – European Chemicals Agency – published the results of an investigation report on lead in shot used in terrestrial environments, in other ammunition types and in fishing tackle. The report builds on the results of the Annex XV dossier for the restriction on lead shot in wetlands and follows the European Commission request to collect information for the assessment of the risk and socio-economic impact if a possible restriction for other uses of lead ammunition, including hunting in other terrains than wetlands and target shooting, as well as for the use of lead weights for fishing.
Current investigation
The ECHA information show the current investigation will evaluate:
- Lead in gunshot for use in terrains other than wetlands;
- Lea in other types od ammunition (bullets) for use in either wetlands or terrain other than wetlands;
- Lead in fishing weights, jigs and sinkers.
But the scope of ECHA investigation can be further elaborated:
- Lead used in gunshot for hunting birds and other species (as rabbits) in terrestrial areas outside of wetlands;
- Lead uses in gunshot for sports shooting – shooting ranges, clay pigeons;
- Lead in bullets (rifle);
During the last year ECHA, by request of European Commission, ask for information that include:
- Information on the frequency and extent of lead poisoning observed in terrestrial species of birds, including predatory and scavenging species;
- Statistical information on the annual game meat consumption in a country or regional area;
- The consumption of game meat in specific groups (children, women in childbearing, high consumers of game meat, as hunters);
- Information on the blood lead levels of game meat consumers and hunters;
And on more topics related to use of lead ammunition by hunters and shooters.
In 18 February 2020 there was an exchange of views with the European Commission on these proposals in the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.
FACE – European Federation for Hunting and Conservation – was mentioned on several occasion by Members of European Parliament and European Commission.
- FACE supports phasing out the use of lead shot for hunting over wetlands.
- FACE doe not support the European Commission proposal (possible restriction for other uses of lead ammunition, including hunting in other terrains than wetlands and target shooting) because introduces fixed buffer zones around wetlands (which were not recommended by ECHA), a short transition period (even shorter than what ECHA recommended), a vague ban on possession of lead shot, which automatically criminalizes hunters, an a very broad definition of wetlands that is too complex for the purpose os this regulation for hunters and enforcement officers to understand in the field.
