Restricting lead shot under the REACH Regulation

Priority question for written answer P-001214/2026
to the Commission
Rule 144
Riho Terras (PPE)

The Commission's proposal to restrict lead shot under the REACH Regulation[1] introduces a prohibition on the placing on the market of lead shot, after a transition period of five years, with a limited derogation for shot sizes between 1.9 mm and 2.6 mm.

At the same time, there is a wide range of indoor shooting disciplines involving shotguns that require different shot sizes. The proposal, as it is currently worded, therefore, will effectively prevent these various indoor shooting disciplines. This is incoherent. This same point has relevance for police, military and other exempted categories where a variety of shot sizes are used.

In this context:

• 1.How does the Commission justify allowing the continued use of lead shot in indoor shooting ranges while restricting the placing on the market of the necessary cartridges?
• 2.Has the Commission assessed the practical implications of this discriminatory and inconsistent measure for indoor shooting disciplines requiring other shot sizes?
• 3.Will the Commission consider an exemption for cartridges intended for indoor shooting ranges to ensure coherence and proportionality?

Submitted: 24.3.2026

• [1] 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), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1907/oj).