Hunt, the government tries everything to favor the doubles lobby

Although the European Union is close to opening an infringement procedure against Italy regarding hunting, the Meloni government is continuing its crusade in favor of the hunting sector and against the protection of wildlife and the population.In particular, by inserting a series of amendments into a law decree that has nothing to do with hunting, the right-wing executive intends to:override the community ban which requires not using lead cartridges, remove power from administrative judges in the event of appeals on hunting plans and weaken the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research in favor of the interests of hunters.For example, regarding the use of harmful lead ammunition, the possible criminal fine has been downgraded to an administrative sanction and the concept of “wetlands” has even been redefined.It will certainly not be a coincidence that the current agriculture minister responsible for hunting activities, Francesco Lollobrigida, is part of the hunters category and that, overall, the doubles lobby ensures the majority parties an avalanche of votes at every election.

The hunting season officially began on 17 September, but the binding EU regulation banning the use of lead ammunition in the wetlands of the Union came into force on 15 February.The decision to ban such ammunition near rivers, lakes, ponds and peat bogs is mostly linked to the protection of public health.Lead, which is one of the most toxic heavy metals, easily enters the food chain and ends up on our tables.In Italy it is estimated that, due to hunting, around 240 tonnes of lead are released into forests and waterways every year.“Exposure to it – as the European Parliament wrote – is associated with effects on neurological development, impaired renal function and fertility, hypertension, adverse pregnancy outcomes and death”.Nonetheless, the Italian government he's trying everything to get around the rule.For example, the ministries of Environment and Agriculture have issued a circular aimed at disavowing European provisions, although their priority should be to protect natural ecosystems and agricultural production.Consequently, the environmental associations appealed to the TAR, whose judges, for obvious reasons, soundly rejected it.In the meantime, as anticipated, the European Commission has sent the government a letter of formal notice to remind our country which is not respecting community standards.The EU's warning, preparatory to a real infringement procedure, among other things specifies that the doubles of Italian hunters are killing birds in a state of decline even during nesting periods.

But nothing, under more than pressure from the hunting associations, the Brothers of Italy and the League still presented the series of amendments, in Legislative Decree 104 of 10 August 2023, aimed at circumventing the EU directive.Even more serious is the attempt to weaken both the power of the administrative judges and of the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA).In particular, this would eliminate the possibility of correcting the hunting calendars proposed annually by each region.Until today, when these appeared to be in conflict with the rules for the protection of wildlife, environmental associations have appealed to the administrative courts to have them suspended as a precaution.«The proposed amendment – ​​explained the lawyer and responsible for the legal protection of nature of the WWF – instead provides that the precautionary monocratic decree can no longer be adopted before the adversarial hearing between the parties is held.In this way, hunting activity will continue with its harmful effects.Finally, the part relating to ISPRA - whose scientific opinion, although not binding, must always be requested before the adoption of any calendar - has disappeared completely".

[by Simone Valeri]