Official discussions on restricting lead in ammunition are continuing in the EU REACH Committee. It is made up of representatives of the EU Member States and is chaired by the European Commission. At the meeting of 22-23 October 2025, the Commission's proposal was discussed.

According to the official summary report, the Commission presented a revised option for restricting lead in ammunition that would separate restrictions on the use of lead in ammunition from restrictions on the use of lead in fishing tackle. Although the proposal on fishing tackle won broad support, the question of ammunition revealed serious disagreements between Member States, particularly with regard to the proposed transition period, its implementation and concerns about the European defence industry. The disagreements underline the complexity of this issue: any solution has to combine environmental and human health objectives with socio-economic impacts and concerns about practical implementation across Europe.

Discussions will resume at the REACH Committee's December meeting, with the question of restricting lead in ammunition once again on the agenda. FACE continues to follow the discussions closely, as restricting lead in ammunition remains a significant regulatory issue affecting 7 million hunters in Europe.

Finally, this topic continues to attract the attention of Members of the European Parliament.