Source: European Parliament
The European Chemicals Agency’s Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis concluded[1] in its assessment that the proposed restriction of lead in ammunition is proportionate, i.e. the expected benefits compensate the expected costs.
The regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)[2] does not provide for compensatory mechanisms, because restrictions are proposed after thoroughly assessing their estimated costs and benefits.
In its proposal, the Commission paid close attention to preserving Member States’ defence preparedness as well as the Union’s strategic autonomy and security of supply.
To this end, it (i) excludes all military and defence applications from the scope, and (ii) allows the continued use of lead bullets (the most common ammunition used for defence purposes) in civilian sports shooting ranges, without conditions.
This will ensure that the demand for lead bullets remains at pre-restriction levels as the market for lead bullets is driven by bullets for sport shooting.
Production lines for lead bullets will therefore remain economically viable and available should there be a need to scale up production for military uses.
The restriction is not expected to bring new dependencies from third countries as most lead and steel used in ammunition already come from outside the EU. The proposed obligation to recover spent lead will rather help reduce the existing dependence.
- [1] Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC), Committee for Socioeconomic Analysis (SEAC). Opinion on an Annex XV dossier proposing restrictions on Lead and its compounds (2 December 2022). https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/2c82ef18-ce5d-4b4f-8ff0-002932154acc.
- [2] Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (OJ L 396 30.12.2006, p. 1). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02006R1907-20241218.