Working Group 3
Chemical Hazards

The WG 3: Chemical Hazards will collect and summarise current knowledge of environmental contaminants in game meat (part A). In addition, it will address the current status of the use of different types of ammunition and the awareness of the introduction of metals into game meat (part B).
- To coordinate information seeking, data collection, and curation of chemical contaminants in game meat in Europe, identifying sources, levels, and factors affecting their occurrence, determining which pose the main risk to consumers, and outlining knowledge gaps and needs for future research or surveillance programmes.
Task 3.1.1 Gathering, collating and summarising data on chemical contaminants in game meat.
Task 3.1.2 Training school on chemical contaminants in game meat that could pose a risk to consumers.
- Summarising the current knowledge of health risks and bioavailability related to residues from conventional and alternative hunting ammunition, the national activities for reducing the use of lead ammunition in hunting, and risk perception by hunters, food authorities, and the general public.
Task 3.2 Workshop on the health risks and bioavailability of metal residues from hunting ammunition in game meat, community-wide and national activities for their reduction, and public risk perception.
- Assessing the current methodologies for estimating the distribution of ammunition fragments in the game carcass and potential for harmonisation and standard procedures.
Task 3.3 Investigation of current methodologies for estimating the distribution of ammunition fragments in game carcasses, with a view to harmonising and standardising procedures.
- Determining the acceptance of alternative ammunition in the respective country and experiences with lead-free ammunition.
Task 3.4 Workshop on the acceptance of alternative ammunition and experiences with lead-free ammunition in Europe.