WOAH Statement on the Phasing Out of Lead Ammunition used for Hunting

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) emphasises that lead is a potent and persistent neurotoxin that presents significant, avoidable risks to the health of wildlife, humans, and the environment. Because there is no known safe level of lead exposure, the continued use of lead ammunition in hunting is a major concern for biodiversity and public health.

The risks to wildlife and human health

Extensive scientific evidence demonstrates that spent lead ammunition is a primary cause of wildlife mortality. Waterbirds and terrestrial birds frequently suffer from acute or chronic primary poisoning after ingesting spent lead pellets mistaken for grit or food. Furthermore, secondary poisoning occurs in predatory and scavenging mammals and birds, such as eagles and vultures, that consume lead fragments from the carcasses of hunted animals.

Lead ammunition also poses a public health risk. Lead shot and high-velocity bullets often fragment into microscopic particles upon impact, which can contaminate game meat intended for human consumption. This exposure is particularly hazardous for the neurodevelopment of children and the health of pregnant women.

One Health Solution

Safe, effective, and ballistically comparable non-toxic alternatives, such as steel, copper, bismuth, and tungsten, are already widely available and increasingly price competitive. The transition to these materials is a proven solution that allows hunting to continue while stopping the accumulation of a toxic element in soils, wetlands, and the wider landscape. Avoiding lead exposures and contamination of the environment is a core component of the One Health approach, essential for securing the health of animals, people, and ecosystems.

WOAH encourages and supports the following initiatives by its Members and international partners: