A voluntary pledge made by UK shooting organisations in 2020 to phase out lead shot in favour of non-toxic alternatives by 2025 has failed, according to research funded by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
The study, conducted by Cambridge University and the University of the Highlands and Islands, found that despite industry commitments, the use of lead shot in game shooting remains widespread. The findings were published on 6 March in Conservation Evidence.
In the latest phase of the research, shot was recovered from 171 whole pheasants purchased from butchers, game dealers, and supermarkets. Of these, 99% had been killed using lead ammunition. Similar testing of 78 red grouse carcasses from the 2024/25 shooting season found that all had been shot with lead.
The research team, which has monitored the transition annually since the pledge was made, concluded that voluntary efforts had not succeeded in phasing out lead.
The pledge, signed in February 2020 by nine of the UK’s leading shooting and rural organisations, was intended to reduce environmental contamination and ensure game meat remains a sustainable and marketable food product. However, the study suggests that take-up of non-toxic ammunition has been slow, with little sign of voluntary compliance increasing.
Retailers left with unsellable stock
The continued use of lead has placed UK ammunition retailers in a difficult position. Many gun shops have invested heavily in non-lead alternatives, anticipating a shift in demand, but have struggled to sell stock as most shooters continue using lead. Despite growing pressure from environmental groups, uptake of non-lead options has been far lower than expected.
At the same time, the failure to transition away from lead has created challenges for the game meat supply chain. In 2019, Waitrose pledged to stop selling game killed with lead shot, but researchers found that the supermarket had been let down by suppliers. Between 2021 and 2023, Waitrose chose not to sell oven-ready pheasants at all due to concerns over lead contamination. While it resumed sales in January 2024, analysis showed that most of the pheasants it stocked had been shot using lead ammunition.
The National Game Dealers Association (NGDA) also pledged in 2022 to stop selling game shot with lead, but this commitment has since been withdrawn. The study found that all pheasants purchased from three NGDA member businesses in the 2024/25 season had been shot with lead.
A breakdown in leadership
The study found that early messaging from within the shooting community supported the voluntary transition, but this has since faded. Analysis of BASC’s membership magazine suggested that articles initially promoted the use of non-lead alternatives but by 2023, mentions of the transition had significantly declined.
The study also referenced Denmark, where a legal ban on lead shot has been in place for nearly 30 years. Danish shooting groups now largely accept the restrictions, and the study suggests that the ban has not impacted the sport’s popularity.
However, the research was funded in part by the RSPB, a vocal opponent of game shooting, as well as Waitrose and an anonymous donor. Many in the shooting community argue that the transition to non-lead ammunition is more complex than presented in the study, with concerns over performance, cost, and the suitability of alternatives for older firearms.
Government delays decision on lead shot ban
The findings come at a time when the UK government has failed to meet its deadline to respond to the Health & Safety Executive’s (HSE) recommendations for restrictions on the use of toxic lead ammunition. The HSE’s report, published in December 2024, proposed a ban on lead shot for live quarry shooting, citing risks to human health and the environment. The government was due to issue its response by 13 March 2025 but, at the time of writing, has yet to do so.
The lack of clarity leaves the sector in a state of uncertainty. Retailers that invested in non-lead alternatives have struggled to sell stock, while others are reluctant to expand their inventory until a regulatory decision is made. Meanwhile, game dealers and food retailers remain cautious about the long-term market for lead-shot game meat.
If regulation is introduced, it could accelerate the shift towards non-lead alternatives, with potential implications for pricing, supply, and consumer confidence.
With no government decision yet announced and voluntary measures having failed, the industry is left in limbo.
You can read the full April 2025 issue below:
