Italian Senate passes controversial hunting reform law

On 24 June 2026 the Italian Senate gave a majority vote to draft law 1552, dubbed the “DDL sparatutto”. The text recasts wildlife management as a tool for biodiversity control, expands permissible hunting areas to include forest public lands, allows night‑vision equipment, widens the hunting calendar and adds species such as wild goose and city pigeon to the list of game. It also reduces protection for species like the wolf, golden jackal and wild boar and limits the advisory role of ISPRA.

The measure provokes sharp opposition from environmental and animal‑rights organisations, which have organised sit‑ins, gathered more than 230 000 petition signatures and denounced the reform as a breach of Italy’s Constitution, in particular Article 9 that guarantees protection of the environment and biodiversity. Prominent figures including former prime minister Giuseppe Conte and several parliamentarians have called the bill “unconstitutional” and pledged a hard‑line opposition. The debate now moves to the Chamber of Deputies.

Critics warn the law could increase risks to public safety, undermine EU wildlife directives and trigger a cascade of ecological damage, while supporters argue it modernises wildlife control and benefits hunters.