EU begins regulating shooting sports – Euractiv

We interviewed Luciano Rossi, International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF)to get his thoughts on a draft EU law that will affect European athletes.

Firstly, can you explain what the International Shooting Federation is and what role it plays in the shooting sports sector?

The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) is the governing body for Olympic shooting and other shooting sports. Founded in 1907, the ISSF is responsible for organizing and supervising competitions, setting rules and regulations, and promoting the development of shooting sports around the world. Bringing together 163 member federations from 149 countries and territories around the world, the ISSF is committed to fostering a culture of safety, fairness and excellence in shooting sports, supporting athletes from grassroots to elite levels.

We are preparing for the Paris Olympics. What are you looking forward to?

We have high expectations for the upcoming Olympic Games. The build-up to the Olympics is very exciting and France has done a lot to prepare for this major event.

340 athletes from 81 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) qualified during the qualification period, along with two athletes from the Olympic Team for Refugees (EOR). In total, 342 athletes from 82 NOCs will compete in 432 events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which will be held from July 27 to August 5 at the Centre National de Tille, a state-of-the-art shooting complex in Châteauroux. The competition will feature 15 events, including individual, team and mixed team events.

This will provide a great platform for our Olympians to show their best on the world stage. But we should also focus on the Para-sport of shooting, which will be held from August 30 to September 5 and will include 13 events for men and women, combining distances and positions (kneeling, standing or sitting in a chair, lying or in a wheelchair).

Shooting has been an Olympic sport since the first modern Olympics and has a history of hundreds of years in Europe. The Paris Olympics will continue this long tradition. I am sure we will see a wonderful display of modern sportsmanship.

With regard to the latest developments regarding the EU proposal to restrict lead ammunition, how does the International Shooting Federation view this proposal and its potential impact on shooting sports?

ISSF recognises efforts to achieve health and environmental goals, but We are concerned about the disproportionate impact that the proposed restrictions may haveECHA issued a formal “opinion” on limiting lead content in ammunition in March last year (2023), recommending that the EU should restrict the use of lead ammunition in all shooting activities.

To continue using lead ammunition at skeet (shotgun) shooting ranges, a proposed exemption rule would require, among other things, operators to recycle at least 90 percent of the lead each year. This restriction would put European athletes at an unnecessary competitive disadvantage. For example, other parts of the world will conduct lead training, while It is almost impossible for European shooting ranges to start recycling 90% of their lead every year. This means that athletes need to train with steel shot, which is very different from the lead shot used in competition at this level.

In addition, ECHA’s proposed exemptions for outdoor rifle and pistol shooting ranges using lead ammunition (e.g. trap rooms and “special” bunkers) require Significant investment in much of EuropeCurrently only a small number of shooting ranges have these conditions.

Are there any shotgun shooting ranges in Europe that currently meet these requirements?

as far as I know, There are currently no shotgun shooting ranges in Europe that can recycle 90% of the lead bullets. I therefore find it strange how EU institutions could come up with such a suggestion.

Recently by European Shooting Sports Forum (ESSF) About Outdoor Rifle and Pistol Shooting Ranges Few products meet ECHA requirements Exemption proposal And doing so would require significant costs and time.ECHA failed to take into account the fact that many of these ranges within the EU already have effective risk management measures in place that are tailored to their specific circumstances.

The proposed conditions will impose Huge financial burden without providing commensurate environmental benefits.

Could you elaborate on ISSF’s specific concerns regarding the proposed restrictions?

Our main concern is the impact on outdoor shooting ranges and competitive shooters. Many shooting ranges will not be able to comply with the proposed exemptions, which is not possible from a socio-economic perspective. This will affect the availability of training facilities and disrupt the preparation of athletes, including those who will compete in future Olympic Games. Let us imagine that a skeet shooting range in Europe can handle the problem economically (i.e. recycle 90% of the lead produced each year); this would mean that competitive shooters would have to travel long distances to this particular range, which is unsustainable. This is frustrating because many Best practice risk management measures do work, but ECHA has not yet given due consideration to them.We believe that.

How do you think these restrictions will affect athletes and their performance in international competitions such as the Olympics?

Athletes spend years honing their skills using specialized equipment and ammunition. Sudden changes in training regimes could erode their competitive advantage, especially for our EU/EEA athletesAthletes need to use training facilities with the same materials as they use in competitions. Otherwise, this will affect their performance in major international competitions such as the Olympics.

ISSF Concerns have also been raised about the impact of the proposed restrictions on the environment. Can you elaborate on this aspect?

While we support all environmental sustainability goals, The proposed restrictions could inadvertently exacerbate some environmental problemsFor example, many shooting ranges will cease operations, preventing managers from collecting and recycling the accumulated lead, an environmental protection measure that ECHA does not seem to have adequately assessed. We need realistic exemptions that allow for realistic percentages of lead to be recycled in realistic time periods. Preparing a shooting range takes time and money. Most people don’t have the money, and It will take at least 10 years to adapt to these changes..

What is the International Shooting Federation doing to address these issues and ensure the long-term sustainability of shooting sports?

this The ISSF is committed to working with all stakeholders to find sustainable solutions. We believe that best practice risk management measures can effectively mitigate the environmental risks associated with lead ammunition. Member States must play a key role in ensuring compliance and licensing. Brussels needs to be less prescriptive and more pragmatic. We need time (at least 10 years) and money to change the shooting scene in Europe. The current disadvantages directly targeting the shooting sports sector seem harsh.

We urge and call on decision-makers to promote a more balanced approach that takes into account both environmental protection and the sustainability of shooting sports.