Effectiveness of actions intended to achieve a voluntary transition from the use of lead to non-lead shotgun ammunition for hunting in Britain

In 2020, nine major UK shooting and rural organisations proposed a voluntary transition from the use for hunting of lead shotgun ammunition to non-lead alternatives. The food retailer Waitrose & Partners has announced its intention move not supplying game meat products animals killed using any kind National Game Dealers Association plan similar policy be implemented in 2022. SHOT-SWITCH research project, which is intended monitor progress these initiatives, began 2020/2021 season. project monitors changes proportions wild-shot common pheasants Phasianus colchicus available consumers Great Britain that had been ammunition, as assessed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry identify composition pellets recovered carcasses. 2020/2021, 99.4% sampled ammunition. We report here further results this study 2021/2022 found 99.5% 215 were conclude organisations’ joint statement two years their considerable efforts education, awareness-raising promotion, have yet detectable effect on types used hunters who supply British market.