Ban on hunting birds with lead shot in EU wetlands hailed as ‘huge milestone’

Law comes into force in 30 countries in move campaigners hope will stop an estimated 1m waterbirds a year dying of lead poisoning

Shooting birds using lead shot will be banned in all wetlands in the European Union from this week.

The law will apply to all 27 EU countries, as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. An estimated one million waterbirds die of lead poisoning in the EU every year.