The EU REACH Committee has passed a vote to ban lead ammunition in guns on wetlands across Europe, which will see 100,000 farmers’ guns in Ireland have to be decommissioned or go through a costly conversion process.

The European legislation still has to receive the final seal of approval from the European Parliament, but very few votes are overturned after being initially passed.

There will be a two-year phase-out period of lead ammunition once the legislation is passed.

The banning of lead ammunition on wetlands across Europe was seen as a major win for environmentalists, who put forward that the lead was harmful to birds and wildlife.

Wetlands

However, the difficulty for Irish gun holders is that much of the country is defined as a wetland, which means the ban on the use of lead ammunition and the guns that use them is effectively nationwide.

This difficulty was acknowledged in a submission by the Department of Culture and Heritage, seen by this newspaper in June this year: “The definition of wetlands was also a concern, as it would be the case that not all wetlands in Ireland, which would cover a considerable area of the country, are mapped and so including a buffer zone of either 300 or 100 metres, as now proposed, around a wetland as part of the restrictions would be problematic as far as enforcement and compliance.”

The majority of Irish guns aren’t capable of using alternative ammunition

Head of the National Association of Regional Games Councils (NARGC) Dan Curley said that the ban would be "unworkable".

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal , he pointed out that at least 100,000 farmers' guns will be affected.

"We’re very disappointed that the Irish Government haven’t taken this into account, that the majority of Irish guns aren’t capable of using alternative ammunition," he said.

It is understood that Green Party Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan was heavily involved in Ireland’s decision process on the vote.

The European legislation still has to receive the final seal of approval from the European Parliament, but very few votes are overturned after being initially passed.

There will be a two-year phase-out period of lead ammunition once the legislation is passed.

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