Cyprus is facing growing pressure to support a proposed EU ban on lead in hunting cartridges and fishing weights, as environmental groups call on the government to back the measure under the bloc’s REACH framework.

REACH Regulation is the EU’s regulatory system for managing chemical risks. It aims to protect human health and the environment, promote safer alternatives and reduce animal testing.

The framework applies to chemical substances used in everyday products and requires companies that manufacture or import more than one tonne annually to register safety data with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

Lead, a toxic heavy metal, poses serious health risks, particularly to children and pregnant women. In hunting, lead pellets can contaminate game meat, creating potential exposure to harmful lead levels for an estimated 13.8 million Europeans, including around 1.1 million children.

Exposure to lead has been linked to impaired brain development, damage to the nervous system and increased cardiovascular risks.

Under REACH, chemical substances are assessed for their properties and risks, enabling EU authorities to impose restrictions on hazardous materials where necessary.

Non-toxic alternatives, such as steel shot, are already available. Countries including Denmark and the United Kingdom have introduced limits on lead ammunition without significantly affecting hunting practices.

Local environmental groups argue that Cyprus should fully support the proposed EU-wide restriction to safeguard wildlife, ecosystems and public health, warning that partial measures would be insufficient.