EU Lead Restrictions Are an Opportunity, Says Czech Lead-Free Specialist Egerfish

One of Europe’s leading manufacturers of lead-free fishing weights has called on the tackle industry to embrace the forthcoming restrictions on lead fishing weights, describing the regulatory change as one of the most significant developments the sector has faced in decades.

Simon Henton of Czech manufacturer Egerfish, speaking after EFTTEX, said the exhibition gave the company an important platform to discuss the transition to lead-free alternatives with both existing customers and prospective new partners.

“As a leading producer of lead-free fishing weights, it was important for us to communicate the options already available to the industry now that restrictions on lead weights are finally being introduced,” he said.

An Opportunity, Not Just a Compliance Burden

Henton believes the legislation presents an opportunity rather than simply a regulatory challenge, with manufacturers, retailers and distributors needing to prepare for growing demand for environmentally responsible products.

“The move towards lead-free tackle is happening now. Companies that have already invested in proven alternatives are well placed to help the industry through this change, and trade events such as EFTTEX have an important role in ensuring businesses are prepared for the future.”

For Chinese terminal tackle exporters — the world’s largest source of sinkers, split shot, jig heads and drop-shot weights — the message is direct. European buyers are accelerating orders for alternatives such as bismuth, tungsten and steel-based weights, and the lead-content rules now point in the same direction as the EU’s recent customs measures on low-value parcels: compliance standards are tightening at the border, not just on the shelf.

Chinese factories that can deliver certified lead-free terminal tackle at scale are positioned to capture a fast-growing share of the EU market, while those still focused on conventional lead products face a shrinking addressable market in Europe.

EFTTEX Under Pressure to Evolve

Henton also used the moment to question whether Europe’s flagship trade show has adapted to how the tackle industry now operates. While visitor numbers at this year’s EFTTEX fell short of expectations, he said the quality of business meetings meant the exhibition remained worthwhile.

“We would have liked to see more visitors, but despite the reduced attendance the event remains a positive experience for us.”

He added that the reasons EFTTEX was originally established have changed, and the show has not evolved to match today’s market.

“The industry is no longer just a traditional manufacturer-wholesaler-retailer supply chain. E-commerce, direct-to-consumer brands and digital business models have fundamentally changed the market, and any trade show needs to reflect that reality.”

Despite its concerns, Egerfish confirmed it will exhibit at next year’s EFTTEX in Prague, where lower costs of a home-country event make participation easier — while warning that unless the event evolves, it risks attracting an ever-smaller number of exhibitors and visitors.

For Chinese suppliers, the twin signals are worth watching: European distributors are re-tooling their ranges around lead-free terminal tackle, and the trade-show circuit that has long connected Chinese factories to European buyers is itself in transition, with digital channels playing a growing role alongside the remaining physical events.

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