Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

429. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the process by which his Department plans to assess the European Commission’s new legal proposal under the REACH regulation to restrict lead in ammunition, including plans for engagement with other Government Departments and state agencies; the plans for public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17614/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/57 of 25 January 2021 amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards lead in gunshot in or around wetlands came into force on 15 February 2023 across EU Member States, after a two year transition period.

This restriction prohibits:

(i) discharging gunshot containing a concentration of lead (expressed as metal) equal to or greater than 1% by weight in or within 100 metres of wetlands, and

(ii) carrying any such gunshot where this occurs while out wetland shooting or as part of going wetland shooting in or within 100 metres of wetlands.

The proposed Commission Regulation would broaden an existing restriction on lead gunshot in wetlands.

A REACH Restriction is a ban or restriction on the manufacture, placing on the market and/use of a substance(s), mixtures or articles, which normally includes specific conditions and/or derogations.

The European Commission requested the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to prepare a restriction proposal on the use of lead in ammunition for outdoor shooting and in fishing in July 2019. ECHA collected information to support its investigation through a call for evidence and public consultation. The opinions of both ECHA Committees (Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC)) were sent to the European Commission in February 2023.

The Commission would then decide whether a restriction is necessary. If so, it would make a proposal to amend the list of restrictions (Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation).

A draft Commission Regulation on the use of lead in ammunition and fishing tackle was included on the agenda of the REACH Committee on 27 February 2025. Discussions on the draft restriction and a vote will take place at a REACH Committee meetings in April, June and October. The REACH Committee procedure is that a proposal is discussed and voted on by the EU Member States in the REACH Committee. Before any restriction can be adopted, it is scrutinised by the European Parliament and the Council.

I do not have policy responsibility for the legislation this restriction would affect. Officials in my Department are engaged with officials across the relevant Government Departments and Agencies that hold policy responsibility for the relevant legislation. Officials in my Department will coordinate the Irish position which will be formulated by the policy holders.

The breadth of this proposed restriction spans several Government Departments and Agencies: the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications; the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; the National Parks and Wildlife Service; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Inland Fisheries and the Department of Justice.

Officials in my Department have met with stakeholders when requested.