Denmark bans lead ammunition completely

Although Denmark may be small in area, with around 170’000 hobby hunters it has a large hunting community.

Denmark's hunting traditions have been shaped by Scandinavia, Germany, France and Great Britain, and the methods of hunting and wildlife management are similar to those in most other European countries.

The negative effects of using lead-containing ammunition in hunting and the possibility of replacing it with lead-free ammunition have been extensively documented. For many years the concern focused primarily on lead shot cartridges, but in recent years attention has shifted to the consequences for the environment, health and animals, as well as for humans and wildlife, arising from the spread of lead from rifle ammunition. Lead particles are deposited in the tissue of hunted animals and carry the risk of poisoning predators and scavengers that consume discarded entrails or parts of unrecovered carcasses of hunted animals, as well as humans who consume game.

Denmark's path towards lead-free hunting ammunition has been shaped by proactive environmental policy, combined with increasing market options and the conscious, voluntary behaviour of many hobby hunters — culminating in comprehensive legal regulation from spring 2024.

Several studies document high levels of lead in ammunition, for example in white-tailed eagles ( Haliaeetus albicilla ) and golden eagles ( Aquila chrysaetos ) and consequently higher mortality and sublethal effects, including behavioural changes.

Various types of lead-free and non-toxic rifle ammunition are manufactured and marketed, with copper and copper-zinc alloys being the most commonly used. Retailers currently offer a wide selection of lead-free rifle ammunition for a broad range of applications. For practical hunting use, the common lead-free types meet the same effectiveness and safety standards as lead-containing ammunition.

The transition to lead-free ammunition in Denmark has brought a number of benefits, including the prevention of suffering and death of millions of wildlife as well as the elimination of the risks posed by ammunition lead to the health of wild game consumers.

Globally, only a few countries have enacted regulations for lead-containing rifle ammunition. California introduced a ban on all lead-containing hunting ammunition in 2019, and several German federal states (e.g. Schleswig-Holstein, Baden-Württemberg and Saarland) have also regulated the use of lead-containing rifle ammunition. In other European countries, only sporadic regulations exist, limited to specific areas such as national parks and wildlife protection zones. There is considerable resistance to change, driven primarily by the international ammunition industry and the hunting community.

England

In a historic step at a critical moment for nature, England, Scotland and Wales have announced a ban on toxic lead ammunition for outdoor shooting, marking a turning point in the effort to protect wildlife from lead poisoning.

Each year, an estimated 7’000 tonnes of lead enter the British countryside, leading to the deaths of up to 100’000 waterfowl, including swans, ducks and wading birds. The new restrictions, announced on 10 July 2025 and due to come into force in 2026, prohibit shot containing more than 1% lead and bullets containing more than 3% lead. A three-year transition period has been provided to give the shooting and hunting sector time to switch to more environmentally friendly alternatives.

EU

In February 2025, the European Commission published its long-awaited proposal to restrict the use of lead in hunting, sport shooting, and fishing. The goal is clear: the scientifically proven environmental and health risks of this highly toxic substance are to be reduced by replacing it with safer, readily available alternatives.

There is no safe level of lead exposure, which is why we have banned lead from petrol, paints, and pipelines. Yet every year, more than 44’000 tonnes of lead enter the EU's environment through hunting, sport shooting, and fishing.

The proposal has triggered a debate among EU countries. At the most recent meeting of EU Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries (AGRIFISH Council), several countries supported an initiative led by the Czech Republic and Slovakia calling on the European Commission to withdraw the proposal. These ministers argue that the restriction could undermine defence readiness, that there is insufficient evidence of impacts on biodiversity, that it raises safety concerns, and that it threatens industries such as fishing. However, these claims do not withstand close scrutiny.