133
each shot, regardless of the type of shot or bullet used. The issue
of richochet of lead-free bullets or gunshot has not arisen as a
serious concern among US hunters, and has not been raised to
prevent a transition to their use.
How long would it take for
industry to ramp up production
of lead-free shot?
UK cartridge companies (Gamebore and Eley) currently make
two proprietary brands of non-toxic shot cartridges, Tungsten
Matrix and Bismuth-tin. At least five UK companies currently
make steel shot cartridges, and more distributors import steel
shot cartridges from European and American companies
(Thomas 2015). This array of steel shot is available for both
game and clay target shooting (Thomas 2013b). The majority
of cartridges made in the UK are made for clay target shooting,
rather than game shooting.
TheUKcompaniesalreadyhavethetechnologyinplacetoproduce
all the non-toxic cartridges that UK shooters will demand. What is
presently limiting production is the assuredmarket demand from
REFERENCES
ANDERSONWL, HAVERA SP, ZERCHER BW (2000). Ingestion of lead and non-
toxic shotgun pellets by ducks in the Mississippi flyway. The Journal of Wildlife
Management 64(3), 848-857.
CROMIE R, LORAM A, HURST L, O’BRIEN M, NEWTH J, BROWN
M, HARRADINE J (2010). Compliance with the environmental
protection (Restrictions on Use of Lead Shot)(England) Regulations
1999. Defra, Bristol. Available at:
aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&ProjectID=16075.
Accessed: August 2015.
CROMIE RL, BROWN MJ, HUGHES B, HOCCOM DG, WILLIAMS G (2002).
Prevalenceofshot-inpellets inmallardpurchasedfromgamedealers inEngland
in winter 2001/2002. Compliance with the Lead Shot Regulations (England) during
winter 2001/02. RSPB. Sandy, UK.
CROMIERL,NEWTHJL,REEVESJP,O’BRIENMF,BECKMANNKM,BROWNMJ
(2015). The sociological and political aspects of reducing lead poisoning from
ammunition intheUK:whythetransitiontonon-toxicammunition issodifficult.
In: Delahay RJ, Spray CJ (eds). Proceedings of the Oxford Lead Symposium. Lead
ammunition:understandingandminimisingtheriskstohumanandenvironmental
health. Edward Grey Institute, The University of Oxford. pp 104-124. Available at:
Accessed: October 2015.
FSA (2012). Advice to frequent eaters of game shot with lead. Available at:
with-lead . Accessed: August 2015.
GARWOOD GT (1994). Gough Thomas’s gun book: shotgun lore for the
sportsman. The Gunnerman Press: Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA.
GREMSE C, RIEGER S (2015). Lead from hunting ammunition in wild game
meat: research initiatives and current legislation in Germany and the EU. In:
Delahay RJ, Spray CJ (eds). Proceedings of the Oxford Lead Symposium. Lead
ammunition:understandingandminimisingtheriskstohumanandenvironmental
health. Edward Grey Institute, The University of Oxford. pp 51-57. Available at:
Accessed: October 2015.
GROUP OF SCIENTISTS (2013). Health risks from lead-based ammunition in
the environment: a consensus statement of scientists. March 22, 2013 Available
at: Accessed: August 2015.
GROUPOFSCIENTISTS(2014). Wildlifeandhumanhealthrisksfrom lead-based
ammunition in Europe: a consensus statement by scientists. Available at: http://
Accessed: August 2015.
HAAS GH (1977). Unretrieved shooting loss of mourning doves in north-
central South Carolina. Wildlife Society Bulletin5(3), 123-125.
IRBY HD, LOCKE LN, BAGLEY GE (1967). Relative toxicity of lead and
selected substitute shot types to game farm mallards. The Journal of Wildlife
Management, 253-257.
KANSTRUP N (2015). Practical and social barriers to switching from lead to
non-toxic gunshot – a perspective from the EU. In: Delahay RJ, Spray CJ (eds).
Proceedings of the Oxford Lead Symposium. Lead ammunition: understanding and
minimising the risks to human and environmental health. Edward Grey Institute,
The University of Oxford. pp 44-50. Available at: http://oxfordleadsymposium.
info. Accessed: October 2015.
the shooting community. Voluntary measures to adopt lead-free
cartridges do not create a strongmarket demand that companies
can rely on. Also, a lack of compliance with existing non-toxic shot
regulations for shooting over UK wetlands (currently about 70+%
non-compliance) does not encourage companies to make more
non-toxic shot than is ordered.
Any regulations that would require greater use of lead-free
cartridges would require an appropriate phase-in time. The vast
majority of steel shot incorporated into cartridges originates in
China, and the Chinese companies would need adequate time to
increase projected production. The same consideration applies
to tungsten originating from Chinese mines and refiners. The
cartridge cases and shot cups designed for steel are not the same
as those used for lead shot cartridges, and so increasing their
production volume takes time. It also takes time for UKmakers to
make, test, advertise and distribute their cartridges, and for the
wholesalers to stock and prepare their products for sale. Given
the experiences of the USA, a transition time of three years to
the date of entrance of legislation appears reasonable, for both
UK and European makers. This is also the timeframe suggested
in the guidance to the CMS (November 2014) Resolution
recommending a phase out of the use of lead ammunition.
Key questions and responses regarding transition to use of lead-free ammunition