HUNTING - The Council urges the government to enact a homogeneous national legislation on the marketability of wild meat shot with lead bullets rather than monolithic ones. This is the commitment contained in the resolution of the Democratic Party in Economic Policies Commission approved with the yes of the Democratic Party, the abstention of Lega North, Italian left e Mixed-Mdp and the no of Movement 5 Stars. “We ask the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Interior to take a position on an issue that has been dragging on for more than a year. Today the regional decision 20621/2016 establishes the sale only of meat shot down with lead-free ammunition - explains a councilor of the Pd. Our proposal, pending a uniform and definitive provision, is aimed at reintroducing the possibility of using lead bullets also during control plans, as was done up to a year ago ”.
In fact, several scientific and ballistic studies show the danger of monolithic ammunition (lead free), both because they risk prolonging the agony of the killed animals, and because due to their structure "they would be dangerous for the people who are in the hunting areas, increasing the risk that, hitting accidental obstacles, they bounce for long ranges with unpredictable trajectories, especially in group hunts ". On the contrary, explains the Pd in committee, the lead contained in the bullets "both because it is already highly regulated in quantity and because it is not directly absorbable by the human body, does not present any health risks".
On this point, however, intervenes Movement 5 Stars which reports a study by Ispra (Higher Institute for Research and Environmental Protection) which would demonstrate how lead ammunition is harmful to both the environment and humans. The risks are those of contaminating the soil and causing chronic damage to health.
It is therefore a "dangerous" resolution, according to pentastellati, for which it would be more advisable to completely ban the use of lead in hunting. The Democratic Party replies on this point, recalling how until 2016 and in other countries the use of lead in hunting has always been the norm, "if serious risks had been ascertained, it would be crazy that it was still allowed". On the other hand, even for these reasons, the Dems insist, cross-referencing various studies and seeking the opinion of the Ministries in order to finally arrive at a homogeneous national legislation, becomes even more urgent. (Francesca Mezzadri)