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

CHAPTER 2 U.K. Harmonization of legislation concerning firearms

[F1 Article 4 U.K.

[F2 1. With respect to firearms manufactured or imported into the Union on or after 14 September 2018 , Member States shall ensure that any such firearm, or any essential component, placed on the market has been:

(a) provided with a clear, permanent and unique marking without delay after manufacture and at the latest before its placement on the market, or without delay after importation into the Union; and

(b) registered in compliance with this Directive without delay after manufacture and at the latest before its placement on the market, or without delay after importation into the Union.

2. The unique marking referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 shall include the name of the manufacturer or brand, the country or place of manufacture, the serial number and the year of manufacture, if not already part of the serial number, and the model where feasible. This shall be without prejudice to the affixing of the manufacturer's trademark. Where an essential component is too small to be marked in compliance with this Article, it shall be marked at least with a serial number or an alphanumeric or digital code.

The marking requirements for firearms or essential components that are of particular historical importance shall be determined in accordance with national law.

Member States shall ensure that each elementary package of complete ammunition is marked in such a way as to indicate the name of the manufacturer, the identification batch (lot) number, the calibre and the type of ammunition.

For the purposes of paragraph 1 and this paragraph, Member States may choose to apply the provisions of the Convention for the Reciprocal Recognition of Proof Marks on Small Arms of 1 July 1969 .

Furthermore, Member States shall ensure, at the time of transfer of a firearm or its essential components from government stocks to permanent civilian use, the unique marking, as provided for under paragraph 1, permitting identification of the transferring entity.

2a. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts establishing technical specifications for the marking. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 13b(2).

3. Each Member State shall establish a system for the regulation of the activities of dealers and brokers. Such systems shall include at least the following measures:

(a) the registration of dealers and brokers operating within the territory of that Member State;

(b) the licensing or authorisation of the activities of dealers and brokers within the territory of that Member State; and

(c) a check of the private and professional integrity and of the relevant abilities of the dealer or broker concerned. In the case of a legal person, the check shall be both on the legal person and on the natural person or persons directing the undertaking.]

4. Member States shall, by 31 December 2014 , ensure the establishment and maintenance of a computerised data-filing system, either a centralised system or a decentralised system which guarantees to authorised authorities access to the data-filing systems in which each firearm subject to this Directive shall be recorded. [F2 That data-filing system shall record all information relating to firearms which is needed in order to trace and identify those firearms, including:

(a)

the type, make, model, calibre and serial number of each firearm and the mark applied to its frame or receiver as a unique marking in accordance with paragraph 1, which shall serve as the unique identifier of each firearm;

(b)

the serial number or unique marking applied to the essential components, where that differs from the marking on the frame or receiver of each firearm;

(c)

the names and addresses of the suppliers and of the persons acquiring or possessing the firearm, together with the relevant date or dates; and

(d)

any conversions or modifications to a firearm leading to a change in its category or subcategory, including its certified deactivation or destruction and the relevant date or dates.

Member States shall ensure that the record of firearms and the essential components, including the related personal data, is retained in the data-filing systems by the competent authorities for a period of 30 years after the destruction of the firearms or essential components in question.

The records of firearms and essential components referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph and the related personal data shall be capable of being accessed:

(a) by the authorities competent to grant or withdraw authorisations referred to in Article 6 or 7 or by the authorities competent for customs proceedings, for a period of 10 years after the destruction of the firearm or the essential components in question; and

(b) by the authorities competent for the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, for a period of 30 years after the destruction of the firearm or the essential components in question.

Member States shall ensure that the personal data are deleted from the data-filing systems upon expiry of the periods specified in the second and third subparagraphs. This is without prejudice to cases in which specific personal data have been transferred to an authority competent for the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties and are used in that specific context, or to other authorities competent for a compatible purpose provided for by national law. In those cases, the processing of such data by the competent authorities shall be regulated by the national law of the Member State concerned, in full compliance with Union law, in particular on data protection.]

[F2 Throughout their period of activity, dealers and brokers shall be required to maintain a register in which each firearm and each essential component subject to this Directive that is received or disposed of by them shall be recorded, together with particulars enabling the firearm or essential component concerned to be identified and traced, in particular the type, make, model, calibre and serial number thereof and the names and addresses of the suppliers and of the persons acquiring it.

Upon the cessation of their activities, dealers and brokers shall deliver that register to the national authorities responsible for the data-filing systems provided for in the first subparagraph.

Member States shall ensure that dealers and brokers established in their territory report transactions involving firearms or essential components without undue delay to the national competent authorities, that dealers and brokers have an electronic connection to those authorities for such reporting purposes and that the data-filing systems are updated immediately upon receipt of information concerning such transactions.]

[F2 5. Member States shall ensure that all firearms may be linked to their owner at any moment.] ]

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.

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).

[F3 [F2 Article 4a U.K.

Without prejudice to Article 3, Member States shall allow the acquisition and possession of firearms only by persons who have been granted a licence or, with respect to firearms classified in category C, who are specifically permitted to acquire and possess such firearms in accordance with national law.] ]

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).

F3 Inserted 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.

F4 Article 4b U.K.

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

Textual Amendments

F4 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).

[F2 Article 5 U.K.

1. Without prejudice to Article 3, Member States shall permit the acquisition and possession of firearms only by persons who have good cause and who:

(a) are at least 18 years of age, except in relation to the acquisition, other than through purchase, and possession of firearms for hunting and target shooting, provided that in that case persons of less than 18 years of age have parental permission, or are under parental guidance or the guidance of an adult with a valid firearms or hunting licence, or are within a licensed or otherwise approved training centre, and the parent, or an adult with a valid firearms or hunting licence, assumes responsibility for proper storage pursuant to Article 5a; and

(b) are not likely to be a danger to themselves or others, to public order or to public safety; the fact of having been convicted of a violent intentional crime shall be considered as indicative of such danger.

2. Member States shall have in place a monitoring system, which they may operate on a continuous or non-continuous basis, to ensure that the conditions of authorisation set by national law are met throughout the duration of the authorisation and, inter alia, relevant medical and psychological information is assessed. The specific arrangements shall be determined in accordance with national law.

Where any of the conditions of authorisation is no longer met, Member States shall withdraw the respective authorisation.

Member States may not prohibit persons resident within their territory from possessing a firearm acquired in another Member State unless they prohibit the acquisition of the same type of firearm within their own territory.

3. Member States shall ensure that an authorisation to acquire and an authorisation to possess a firearm classified in category B shall be withdrawn if the person who was granted that authorisation is found to be in possession of a loading device apt to be fitted to centre-fire semi-automatic firearms or repeating firearms, which:

(a) can hold more than 20 rounds; or

(b) in the case of long firearms, can hold more than 10 rounds,

unless that person has been granted an authorisation under Article 6 or an authorisation which has been confirmed, renewed or prolonged under Article 7(4a).

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).

Article 5a U.K.

In order to minimise the risk of firearms and ammunition being accessed by unauthorised persons, Member States shall establish rules on the proper supervision of firearms and ammunition and rules on their proper storage in a secure manner. Firearms and their ammunition shall not be readily accessible together. Proper supervision shall mean that the person lawfully possessing the firearm or the ammunition concerned has control over it during its transportation and use. The level of scrutiny of such proper storage arrangements shall reflect the number and category of the firearms and ammunition concerned.

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).

Article 5b U.K.

Member States shall ensure that, in cases involving the acquisition and selling of firearms, essential components or ammunition classified in category A, B or C by means of distance contracts as defined in point (7) of Article 2 of Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) , the identity, and where required, the authorisation of the purchaser of the firearm, essential components or ammunition are checked prior to, or at the latest upon, delivery thereof to that person, by:

(a)

a licensed or authorised dealer or broker; or

(b)

a public authority or a representative of that authority.

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).

Article 6 U.K.

1. Without prejudice to Article 2(2), Member States shall take all appropriate measures to prohibit the acquisition and possession of the firearms, the essential components and the ammunition classified in category A. They shall ensure that those firearms, essential components and ammunition unlawfully held in contravention of that prohibition are impounded.

2. For the protection of the security of critical infrastructure, commercial shipping, high-value convoys and sensitive premises, as well as for national defence, educational, cultural, research and historical purposes, and without prejudice to paragraph 1, the national competent authorities may grant, in individual cases, exceptionally and in a duly reasoned manner, authorisations for firearms, essential components and ammunition classified in category A where this is not contrary to public security or public order.

3. Member States may choose to grant to collectors, in individual special cases, exceptionally and in a duly reasoned manner, authorisations to acquire and possess firearms, essential components and ammunition classified in category A, subject to strict conditions on security, including the demonstration to the national competent authorities that measures are in place to address any risks to public security or public order and that the firearms, essential components or ammunition concerned are stored with a level of security proportionate to the risks associated with unauthorised access to such items.

Member States shall ensure that collectors authorised under the first subparagraph of this paragraph are identifiable within the data-filing systems referred to in Article 4. Such authorised collectors shall be obliged to maintain a register of all firearms in their possession classified in category A, which shall be accessible to the national competent authorities. Member States shall establish an appropriate monitoring system with respect to such authorised collectors, taking all relevant factors into account.

4. Member States may authorise dealers or brokers, in their respective professional capacities, to acquire, manufacture, deactivate, repair, supply, transfer and possess firearms, essential components and ammunition classified in category A, subject to strict conditions regarding security.

5. Member States may authorise museums to acquire and possess firearms, essential components and ammunition classified in category A, subject to strict conditions regarding security.

6. Member States may authorise target shooters to acquire and possess semi-automatic firearms classified in point 6 or 7 of category A, subject to the following conditions:

(a) a satisfactory assessment of relevant information arising from the application of Article 5(2);

(b) provision of proof that the target shooter concerned is actively practising for or participating in shooting competitions recognised by an officially recognised shooting sports organisation of the Member State concerned or by an internationally established and officially recognised shooting sport federation; and

(c) provision of a certificate from an officially recognised shooting sports organisation confirming that:

(i)

the target shooter is a member of a shooting club and has been regularly practising target shooting in it for at least 12 months; and

(ii)

the firearm in question fulfils the specifications required for a shooting discipline recognised by an internationally established and officially recognised shooting sport federation.

As regards firearms classified in point 6 of category A, Member States applying a military system based on general conscription and having in place over the last 50 years a system of transfer of military firearms to persons leaving the army after fulfilling their military duties may grant to those persons, in their capacity as a target shooter, an authorisation to keep one firearm used during the mandatory military period. The relevant public authority shall transform those firearms into semi-automatic firearms and shall periodically check that the persons using such firearms do not represent a risk to public security. The provisions set out in points (a), (b) and (c) of the first subparagraph shall apply.

7. Authorisations granted under this Article shall be reviewed periodically at intervals not exceeding 5 years.]

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).

Article 7 U.K.

1. No one may acquire a firearm classified in category B within the territory of a Member State unless that Member State has so authorized him.

No such authorization may be given to a resident of another Member State without the latter’s prior agreement.

2. No one may be in possession of a firearm classified in category B within the territory of a Member State unless that Member State has so authorized him. If he is a resident of another Member State, that other Member State shall be informed accordingly.

3. An authorization to acquire and an authorization to possess a firearm classified in category B may take the form of a single administrative decision.

[F3 4. Member States may consider granting persons who satisfy the conditions for the granting of an authorisation for a firearm a multiannual licence for the acquisition and possession of all firearms subject to authorisation, without prejudice to:

(a) the obligation to notify the competent authorities of transfers;

(b) the periodic verification that those persons continue to satisfy the conditions; and

(c) the maximum limits for possession laid down in national law.

[F5 Authorisations for possession of firearms shall be reviewed periodically, at intervals not exceeding 5 years. An authorisation may be renewed or prolonged if the conditions on the basis of which it was granted are still fulfilled.]

[F5 4a. Member States may decide to confirm, renew or prolong authorisations for semi-automatic firearms classified in point 6, 7 or 8 of category A in respect of a firearm which was classified in category B, and lawfully acquired and registered, before 13 June 2017 , subject to the other conditions laid down in this Directive. Furthermore, Member States may allow such firearms to be acquired by other persons authorised by Member States in accordance with this Directive, as amended by Directive (EU) 2017/853 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) .]

5. Member States shall adopt rules to ensure that persons holding authorisations for firearms of category B in force under national law as at 28 July 2008 do not need to apply for a licence or permit regarding firearms they hold in categories C or D due to the entry into force of Directive 2008/51/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 (3) . However, any subsequent transfer of firearms of categories C or D shall be subject to the transferee obtaining or having a licence or being specifically permitted to possess those firearms in accordance with national law.]

Textual Amendments

F3 Inserted 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.

F5 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).

Article 8 U.K.

1. No one may be in possession of a firearm classified in category C unless he has declared it to the authorities of the Member State in which that firearm is held.

[X1 The Member States shall provide for the compulsory declaration of all firearms classified in category C at present held within their territories within one year] of the entry into force of the national provisions transposing this Directive.

2. Every seller, dealer or private person shall inform the authorities of the Member State in which it takes place of every transfer or handing over of a firearm classified in category C, giving the particulars by which the firearm and the person acquiring it may be identified. If the person acquiring such a firearm is a resident of another Member State, that other Member State shall be informed of the acquisition by the Member State in which it took place and by the person acquiring the firearm.

[F2 3. If a Member State prohibits or makes subject to authorisation the acquisition and possession within its territory of a firearm classified in category B or C, it shall inform the other Member States, which shall expressly include a statement to that effect on any European firearms pass they issue for such a firearm, pursuant to Article 12(2).]

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Council Directive 91/477/EEC of 18 June 1991 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (Official Journal of the European Communities L 256 of 13 September 1991).

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).

Article 9 U.K.

1. The handing over of a firearm classified in category A, B or C to a person who is not resident in the Member State in question shall be permitted, subject to compliance with the obligations laid down in Articles 6, 7 and 8:

• where the person acquiring it has been authorized in accordance with Article 11 himself to effect a transfer to his country of residence,

• where the person acquiring it submits a written declaration testifying to and justifying his intention to be in possession of the firearm in the Member State of acquisition, provided that he fulfils the legal conditions for possession in that Member State.

2. Member States may authorize the temporary handing over of firearms in accordance with procedures which they shall lay down.

[F2 Article 10 U.K.

1. The arrangements for the acquisition and possession of ammunition shall be the same as those for the possession of the firearms for which the ammunition is intended.

The acquisition of loading devices for centre-fire semi-automatic firearms which can hold more than 20 rounds or more than 10 rounds in the case of long firearms shall be permitted only for persons who are granted an authorisation under Article 6 or an authorisation which has been confirmed, renewed or prolonged under Article 7(4a).

2. Dealers and brokers may refuse to complete any transaction for the acquisition of complete rounds of ammunition, or components of ammunition, which they reasonably consider to be suspicious owing to its nature or scale, and shall report any such attempted transaction to the competent authorities.]

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).

[F5 Article 10a U.K.

1. Member States shall take measures to ensure that devices with a cartridge holder which are designed to fire only blanks, irritants, other active substances or pyrotechnic signalling rounds are not capable of being converted to expel a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of a combustible propellant.

2. Member States shall classify as firearms devices with a cartridge holder which are designed to fire only blanks, irritants, other active substances or pyrotechnic signalling rounds and which are capable of being converted to expel a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of a combustible propellant.

3. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down technical specifications for alarm and signal weapons manufactured or imported into the Union on or after 14 September 2018 to ensure that they are not capable of being converted to expel a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of a combustible propellant. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 13b(2). The Commission shall adopt the first such implementing act by 14 September 2018 .

Textual Amendments

F5 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).

Article 10b U.K.

1. Member States shall make arrangements for the deactivation of firearms to be verified by a competent authority in order to ensure that the modifications made to a firearm render all its essential components permanently inoperable and incapable of removal, replacement or modification in a manner that would permit the firearm to be reactivated in any way. Member States shall, in the context of that verification, provide for the issuance of a certificate and record attesting to the deactivation of the firearm and the apposition of a clearly visible mark to that effect on the firearm.

2. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down deactivation standards and techniques to ensure that all essential components of a firearm are rendered permanently inoperable and incapable of removal, replacement or modification in a manner that would permit the firearm to be reactivated in any way. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 13b(2).

3. The implementing acts referred to in paragraph 2 shall not apply to firearms deactivated prior to the date of application of those implementing acts unless those firearms are transferred to another Member State or placed on the market subsequent to that date.

4. Member States may notify to the Commission within 2 months after 13 June 2017 their national deactivation standards and techniques applied before 8 April 2016 , justifying the reasons for which the level of security ensured by those national deactivation standards and techniques is equivalent to that ensured by the technical specifications for deactivation of firearms set out in Annex I to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2403 (4) as applicable on 8 April 2016 .

5. When Member States notify the Commission in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Article, the Commission shall, at the latest 12 months after notification, adopt implementing acts deciding whether the national deactivation standards and techniques thus notified ensured that firearms were deactivated with a level of security equivalent to that ensured by the technical specifications for deactivation of firearms set out in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2403 as applicable on 8 April 2016 . Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 13b(2).

6. Until the date of application of the implementing acts referred to in paragraph 5, any firearm deactivated in accordance with the national deactivation standards and techniques applied before 8 April 2016 shall, when transferred to another Member State or placed on the market, comply with the technical specifications for deactivation of firearms set out in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2403.

7. Firearms deactivated before 8 April 2016 in accordance with the national deactivation standards and techniques that have been found to ensure a level of security equivalent to that ensured by the technical specifications for deactivation of firearms set out in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2403 as applicable on 8 April 2016 shall be considered to be deactivated firearms, including when they are transferred to another Member State or placed on the market after the date of application of the implementing acts referred to in paragraph 5.]

Textual Amendments

F5 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).

(1)

[F2 Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on consumer rights, amending Council Directive 93/13/EEC and Directive 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 85/577/EEC and Directive 97/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, p. 64 ).]

(2)

[F3 [F5 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 ( OJ L 137, 24.5.2017, p. 22 ).] ]

(3)

[F3 OJ L 179, 8.7.2008, p. 5 .]

(4)

[F5 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2403 of 15 December 2015 establishing common guidelines on deactivation standards and techniques for ensuring that deactivated firearms are rendered irreversibly inoperable ( OJ L 333, 19.12.2015, p. 62 ).]

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).

F3 Inserted 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.

F5 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).