Lead’s days are numbered in hunting. The problem is that nobody really knows how to replace it

The ECHA has recommended that the European Commission ban the use and sale of lead-based hunting cartridges and fishing tackle containing more than 1% lead, extending current wetland limits EU-wide.

Spanish scientists are calling for immediate enforcement, while hunting groups want transition periods, financial support, and more research into substitutes such as steel or bismuth.

The proposal aims to cut lead pollution and protect wildlife and human health, but it could hit hunters, manufacturers, and rural economies if alternatives are not ready.