These Regulations, which apply to Wales, prohibit the use of lead shot for shooting with a shotgun— a on or over any area below the high-water mark; b on or over the sites of special scientific interest included in Schedule 1 to the Regulations; or c any wild bird included in Schedule 2 to the Regulations namely ducks and geese (all species of each), coot and moorhen (regulation 3). “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 4 provides for powers of entry and inspection, a power to take samples, and a power to take any dead or injured wild birds, in order to determine whether any provisions of the Regulations have been broken.

Regulation 5 provides that breach of regulation 3, or obstruction of a person exercising any power under regulation 4, is a criminal offence punishable by a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Notifications of sites of special scientific interest under section 28(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are registered as local land charges (section 28(9) of that Act).

Details of the areas included in the sites of special scientific interest listed in Schedule 1 to the Regulations can be obtained from the Countryside Council for Wales at Plas Penrhos, Ffordd Penrhos, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2LQ.

The Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) (Wales) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/4003 (W.331)), are revoked (regulation 6).