Use of lead in natural environments and its environmental impact

Question for written answer E-000831/2019 to the Commission Rule 130 Florent Marcellesi (Verts/ALE) Subject: Use of lead in natural environments and its environmental impact The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has proposed restrictions on the use of lead bullets in natural environments, warning of the adverse effects of the heavy metal, particularly on water resources, wild animals and people who eat game meat. Activities such as the foxhound hunting ‘championships’ in Galicia, where between 200 and 300 hunters shoot rounds of lead bullets for six hours, clearly pose a danger to the environment and have not been scientifically studied. Given the warnings contained in the ECHA’s report of 27 November 2018: 1. What is the Commission doing to enforce Article 4(2) of Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy? Will it conduct an in situ assessment of the foxhound hunting championships in Galicia? 2. Does it think that the large-scale hunts have a scientific purpose or serve to regulate ecosystems and their animal populations? 3. Has it assessed whether other metals or alloys could be used as alternatives to lead in ammunition?