Council Directive of 18 June 1991 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (91/477/EEC)

ANNEX I U.K.

I. For the purposes of this Directive, ‘weapon’ means: U.K.

• [F1 any firearm as defined in Article 1 of the Directive,]

• weapons other than firearms as defined in national legislation.

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Directive 2008/51/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 amending Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons.

II. [F2 For the purposes of this Directive, firearms are classified in the following categories:] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F2 Substituted by Directive (EU) 2017/853 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 amending Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (Text with EEA relevance).

A. [F3 Any object which falls into one of the following categories, unless it meets the definition but is excluded for one of the reasons listed in section III.] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F3 Deleted by Directive (EU) 2017/853 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 amending Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (Text with EEA relevance).

Category A — Prohibited firearms U.K.

1. Explosive military missiles and launchers. U.K.

2. Automatic firearms. U.K.

3. Firearms disguised as other objects. U.K.

4. Ammunition with penetrating, explosive or incendiary projectiles, and the projectiles for such ammunition. U.K.

5. Pistol and revolver ammunition with expanding projectiles and the projectiles for such ammunition, except in the case of weapons for hunting or for target shooting, for persons entitled to use them. U.K.

[F4 6. Automatic firearms which have been converted into semi-automatic firearms, without prejudice to Article 7(4a). U.K.

Textual Amendments

F4 Inserted by Directive (EU) 2017/853 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 amending Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (Text with EEA relevance).

7. Any of the following centre-fire semi-automatic firearms: U.K.

(a)

short firearms which allow the firing of more than 21 rounds without reloading, if:

(i)

a loading device with a capacity exceeding 20 rounds is part of that firearm; or

(ii)

a detachable loading device with a capacity exceeding 20 rounds is inserted into it;

(b)

long firearms which allow the firing of more than 11 rounds without reloading, if:

(i)

a loading device with a capacity exceeding 10 rounds is part of that firearm; or

(ii)

a detachable loading device with a capacity exceeding 10 rounds is inserted into it.

8. Semi-automatic long firearms (i.e. firearms that are originally intended to be fired from the shoulder) that can be reduced to a length of less than 60 cm without losing functionality by means of a folding or telescoping stock or by a stock that can be removed without using tools. U.K.

9. Any firearm in this category that has been converted to firing blanks, irritants, other active substances or pyrotechnic rounds or into a salute or acoustic weapon.] U.K.

[F2 Category B — Firearms subject to authorisation U.K.

1. Repeating short firearms. U.K.

2. Single-shot short firearms with centre-fire percussion. U.K.

3. Single-shot short firearms with rimfire percussion whose overall length is less than 28 cm. U.K.

4. Semi-automatic long firearms whose loading device and chamber can together hold more than three rounds in the case of rimfire firearms and more than three but fewer than twelve rounds in the case of centre-fire firearms. U.K.

5. Semi-automatic short firearms other than those listed under point 7(a) of category A. U.K.

6. Semi-automatic long firearms listed under point 7(b) of category A whose loading device and chamber cannot together hold more than three rounds, where the loading device is detachable or where it is not certain that the weapon cannot be converted, with ordinary tools, into a weapon whose loading device and chamber can together hold more than three rounds. U.K.

7. Repeating and semi-automatic long firearms with smooth-bore barrels not exceeding 60 cm in length. U.K.

8. Any firearm in this category that has been converted to firing blanks, irritants, other active substances or pyrotechnic rounds or into a salute or acoustic weapon. U.K.

9. Semi-automatic firearms for civilian use which resemble weapons with automatic mechanisms other than those listed under point 6, 7 or 8 of category A.] U.K.

[F2 Category C — Firearms and weapons subject to declaration U.K.

1. Repeating long firearms other than those listed in point 7 of category B. U.K.

2. Long firearms with single-shot rifled barrels. U.K.

3. Semi-automatic long firearms other than those listed in category A or B. U.K.

4. Single-shot short firearms with rimfire percussion whose overall length is not less than 28 cm. U.K.

5. Any firearm in this category that has been converted to firing blanks, irritants, other active substances or pyrotechnic rounds or into a salute or acoustic weapon. U.K.

6. Firearms classified in category A or B or this category that have been deactivated in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2403. U.K.

7. Single-shot long firearms with smooth-bore barrels placed on the market on or after 14 September 2018 .] U.K.

F3 Category D — Other firearms U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3 B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

[F2 III. For the purposes of this Annex, objects which correspond to the definition of a ‘ firearm ’ shall not be included in that definition if they: U.K.

(a)

are designed for alarm, signalling, life-saving, animal slaughter or harpoon fishing or for industrial or technical purposes provided that they can be used for the stated purpose only;

(b)

are regarded as antique weapons where these have not been included in the categories set out in Part II and are subject to national laws.

Pending coordination throughout the Union, Member States may apply their national laws to the firearms listed in this Part.]

IV. For the purposes of this Annex: U.K.

(a)

‘short firearm’ means a firearm with a barrel not exceeding 30 centimetres or whose overall length does not exceed 60 centimetres;

(b)

‘long firearm’ means any firearm other than a short firearm;

(c)

‘automatic firearm’ means a firearm which reloads automatically each time a round is fired and can fire more than one round with one pull on the trigger;

(d)

‘semi-automatic firearm’ means a firearm which reloads automatically each time a round is fired and can fire only one round with one pull on the trigger;

(e)

‘repeating firearm’ means a firearm which after a round has been fired is designed to be reloaded from a magazine or cylinder by means of a manually-operated action;

(f)

‘single-shot firearm’ means a firearm with no magazine which is loaded before each shot by the manual insertion of a round into the chamber or a loading recess at the breech of the barrel;

(g)

‘ammunition with penetrating projectiles’ means ammunition for military use where the projectile is jacketed and has a penetrating hard core;

(h)

‘ammunition with explosive projectiles’ means ammunition for military use where the projectile contains a charge which explodes on impact;

(i)

‘ammunition with incendiary projectiles’ means ammunition for military use where the projectile contains a chemical mixture which bursts into flame on contact with the air or on impact.