The Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

These Regulations prohibit the use of lead shot for shooting with a shot gun on or over wetlands (regulation 4).

“Lead shot” means any shot made of lead or of any alloy or compound of lead where lead comprises more than 1% of that alloy or compound (regulation 2).

Regulation 3 defines “wetlands” by reference to Article 1(1) of the Ramsar Convention (the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat signed at Ramsar on 2nd February 1971), with further explanation of the terms “peatland” and “temporary” wetlands for the purposes of the Regulations. Article 1(1) states:

“For the purposes of this Convention wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.”

The Ramsar Convention provides a detailed “Classification System for Wetland Types” which provides further guidance as to what constitutes a wetland. A copy of the Convention and the Classification System is available at http://www.ramsar.org/key_conv_e.htm.

Regulation 5 creates the offence of contravention, or causing or permitting the contravention of regulation 4. It makes that offence punishable summarily with a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

The powers of enforcement set out in Article 72 of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 apply to these Regulations.