After years of environmental campaigning, the UK government has announced a groundbreaking ban on toxic lead ammunition that will save countless wildlife lives starting in 2026. The new regulations will phase out lead-based shotgun pellets and bullets over three years, targeting one of the most persistent sources of wildlife poisoning across England, Scotland, and Wales. According to conservation groups, approximately 100,000 birds die annually in the UK from ingesting lead shot, which they often mistake for food or grit.
The decision represents a major environmental victory, with studies showing that 99.5% of common pheasants killed still contained lead shot despite voluntary reduction efforts. Waterbirds like swans and ducks face particular danger from lead poisoning, making wetlands safer havens for millions of migratory species. Environment Minister Emma Hardy emphasized that this ban will help reverse pollution and restore the countryside that Britain’s nature lovers cherish. While shooting organizations expressed concerns about the timeline, environmental groups are celebrating this long-overdue step toward protecting birds from a well-known threat that has plagued wildlife for decades.