Policy paper

UK REACH restriction on lead in ammunition: outdoor shooting ranges

Published 1 April 2026

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-reach-restriction-on-lead-in-ammunition-outdoor-shooting-ranges/uk-reach-restriction-on-lead-in-ammunition-outdoor-shooting-ranges

The use of lead and its compounds at outdoor shooting ranges is subject to the following restrictions, that became law on 1 April 2026.

There will be 2 transition periods to give individuals, groups and businesses time to prepare.

1. Shot containing lead

Shot containing lead and its compounds in a concentration equal to or greater than 1% by weight, must not be used.

This ban applies from 1 April 2029, the end of the 3-year transition period. This does not apply to elite (Olympic level) athletes.

Further guidance on this will be available before the end of the transition period.

2. Projectiles other than shot containing lead

Projectiles other than shot containing lead and its compounds in a concentration equal to or greater than 3% by weight, must not be used at an outdoor shooting range.

This ban applies from 1 April 2028, the end of the 2-year transition period, unless certain requirements are met.

Examples of projectiles other than shot include bullets and musket rounds.

Circumstances where lead ammunition is still permitted

There are limited general exceptions to the restrictions, such as military and police activities.

There are no restrictions on the use of lead in ammunition for airguns.

If certain requirements are met, there is an exception to restriction number 2, to allow the use of projectiles other than shot containing lead at outdoor shooting ranges (see below).

Exception at shooting ranges where action has been taken to reduce risks

Projectiles other than shot with a concentration greater than 3% of lead can be used by shooters at an outdoor shooting range, when the outdoor shooting range has met certain requirements.

The shooting range must have:

  • taken action to reduce the risks, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ruminants and grazing wildlife (including wild birds), soil and water arising from this use of lead projectiles
  • produced and maintained documentation explaining the actions taken to address such risks
  • submitted required information, as set out below, to the relevant enforcing authority

The relevant enforcing authority is:

  • the Environment Agency in England
  • Natural Resources Wales in Wales
  • Scottish Environment Protection Agency in Scotland

UK REACH applies in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Under the Windsor Framework, EU REACH applies in Northern Ireland. The terms of this restriction will therefore not apply in Northern Ireland.

Submitting information to enforcing authorities

Outdoor shooting ranges must submit the following information to the relevant enforcing authority at least every 3 years, or when the information changes:

  • name, address, and Ordnance Survey grid reference of the outdoor shooting range
  • name and contact details of the person responsible for safety at the outdoor shooting range
  • declaration confirming that action has been taken to reduce the risks arising from this use, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ruminants and grazing wildlife, soil, and water

Details of where to send this information will be announced by enforcing authorities.

If you send the information before 1 April 2028, your outdoor shooting range will be allowed uninterrupted use of lead projectiles (other than shot) when the transition period ends.

The relevant enforcing authority will establish, publish and maintain a list of sites that have submitted the required information. The location of those lists will be announced.

An outdoor shooting range may be removed from the list and the restriction enforced if it is subsequently identified that:

  • action has not been taken to reduce the risk to ruminants and grazing wildlife (including wild birds), soil, and water, so far as is reasonably practicable
  • the required information has not been re-submitted within 3 years, or kept up to date

Minimising risks to animals, soil and water

Outdoor shooting ranges must record the actions taken to reduce the risks of lead projectiles to:

  • ruminants (hooved animals including cattle and sheep) and grazing wildlife 
  • soil
  • water

They must make this record available to the relevant enforcing authority on request.

The amount of information that you should record will depend on the nature of any risks identified. As a guide, to provide evidence of action, include information on:

  • range location and boundaries
  • soil and water protection
  • management of projectiles

Range location and boundaries

You can include:

  • the location of ranges, butts, and the boundary of the range complex
  • areas where ruminants and grazing wildlife have access
  • a statement on how risks to wildlife will be minimised

Soil and water protection

You can include the:

  • location of nearby lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and drainage ditches, underlying aquifers, Source Protection Zones (SPZs) in England and Wales, Protected Areas in Scotland, and known abstraction points (including private water supplies)
  • actions taken to prevent lead from entering water, including storage locations

Management of projectiles

You can include any measures taken to:

  • stop, capture, and retain projectiles (for example earth bunds, sand bays, rubber granulate)
  • remove lead bullets contained in the butts. This relates to fallen or captured bullets, for outdoor ranges not using butts with sand or rubber granules
  • prevent lead-contaminated materials from escaping the site

England

Scotland

Wales

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