On 1 April 2025, the Commission adopted an EU-wide restriction on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in clay targets for shooting. Each year, it is estimated that at least 270 tonnes of these toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative substances are released into the environment from clay target shooting. The new restriction is expected to reduce these emissions by 99 %.
In addition to environmental benefits, the restriction will also reduce the exposure for workers and the public handling or shooting clay targets, lowering the associated cancer risk. It will start applying from 22 April 2026.
PAHs are found in binders, such as petroleum pitch, which are used to produce clay targets.
The restriction proposal was prepared by ECHA in October 2021. Our scientific committees for Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis supported the proposal in their 2022 opinions.
The Commission has released an Explanatory Guide to help stakeholders implement the REACH microplastics restriction (entry 78 of Annex XVII).
The guide, prepared in collaboration with ECHA and EU countries, explains what the restriction is about, answers stakeholders' questions and features decision trees and examples of borderline cases.
The Commission has also asked ECHA to take over the further development of the guide when needs for clarification emerge from the practical implementation of the restriction. We will also publish its future versions.
