Council Directive
of 18 June 1991
on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons
(91/477/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
In cooperation with the European Parliament ,
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ,
Whereas Article 8a of the Treaty provides that the internal market must be established by not later than 31 December 1992; whereas the internal market comprises an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured, in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty;
Whereas, at its meeting in Fontainebleau on 25 and 26 June 1984, the European Council expressly set the objective of abolishing all police and customs formalities at intra-Community frontiers;
Whereas the total abolition of controls and formalities at intra-Community frontiers entails the fulfilment of certain fundamental conditions; whereas in its white paper ‘Completing the internal market’ the Commission stated that the abolition of controls on the safety of objects transported and on persons entails, among other things, the approximation of weapons legislation;
Whereas abolition of controls on the possession of weapons at intra-Community frontiers necessitates the adoption of effective rules enabling controls to be carried out within Member States on the acquisition and possession of firearms and on their transfer to another Member State; whereas systematic controls must therefore be abolished at intra-Community frontiers;
Whereas the mutual confidence in the field of the protection of the safety of persons which these rules will generate between Member States will be the greater if they are underpinned by partially harmonized legislation; whereas it would therefore be useful to determine category of firearms whose acquisition and possession by private persons are to be prohibited, or subject to authorization, or subject to declaration;
Whereas passing from one Member State to another while in possession of a weapon should, in principle, be prohibited; whereas a derogation therefrom is acceptable only if a procedure is adopted that enables Member States to be notified that a firearm is to be brought into their territory;
Whereas, however, more flexible rules should be adopted in respect of hunting and target shooting in order to avoid impeding the free movement of persons more that is necessary;
Whereas the Directive does not affect the right of Member States to take measures to prevent illegal trade in weapons,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
CHAPTER 1

Scope
Article 1
1
For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions apply:
1. ‘
firearm
’
means any portable barrelled weapon that expels, is designed to expel or may be converted to expel a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of a combustible propellant, unless it is excluded from that definition for one of the reasons listed in Part III of Annex I. Firearms are classified in Part II of Annex I.
An object shall be considered to be capable of being converted to expel a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of a combustible propellant if:
  1. it has the appearance of a firearm; and
  2. as a result of its construction or the material from which it is made, it can be so converted;
2. ‘
essential component
’
means the barrel, the frame, the receiver, including both upper and lower receivers, where applicable, the slide, the cylinder, the bolt or the breech block, which, being separate objects, are included in the category of the firearms on which they are or are intended to be mounted;
3. ‘
ammunition
’
means the complete round or the components thereof, including cartridge cases, primers, propellant powder, bullets or projectiles, that are used in a firearm, provided that those components are themselves subject to authorisation in the Member State concerned;
4. ‘
alarm and signal weapons
’
means devices with a cartridge holder which are designed to fire only blanks, irritants, other active substances or pyrotechnic signalling rounds and which are not capable of being converted to expel a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of a combustible propellant;
5. ‘
salute and acoustic weapons
’
means firearms specifically converted for the sole use of firing blanks, for use such as in theatre performances, photographic sessions, film and television recordings, historical re-enactments, parades, sporting events and training;
6. ‘
deactivated firearms
’
means firearms that have been rendered permanently unfit for use by deactivation, ensuring that all essential components of the firearm in question have been rendered permanently inoperable and incapable of removal, replacement or modification in a manner that would permit the firearm to be reactivated in any way;
7. ‘
museum
’
means a permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches and exhibits firearms, essential components or ammunition for historical, cultural, scientific, technical, educational, heritage or recreational purposes, and recognised as such by the Member State concerned;
8. ‘
collector
’
means any natural or legal person dedicated to the gathering and conservation of firearms, essential components or ammunition for historical, cultural, scientific, technical, educational or heritage purposes, and recognised as such by the Member State concerned;
9. ‘
dealer
’
means any natural or legal person whose trade or business consists wholly or partly of either of the following:
  1. the manufacture, trade, exchange, hiring out, repair, modification or conversion of firearms or essential components;
  2. the manufacture, trade, exchange, modification or conversion of ammunition;
10. ‘
broker
’
means any natural or legal person, other than a dealer, whose trade or business consists wholly or partly of either of the following:
  1. the negotiation or arrangement of transactions for the purchase, sale or supply of firearms, essential components or ammunition;
  2. arranging the transfer of firearms, essential components or ammunition within a Member State, from one Member State to another Member State, from a Member State to a third country or from a third country to a Member State;
11. ‘
illicit manufacturing
’
means the manufacturing or assembly of firearms, their essential components and ammunition:
  1. from any essential component of such firearms illicitly trafficked;
  2. without an authorisation issued in accordance with Article 4 by a competent authority of the Member State where the manufacture or assembly takes place; or
  3. without marking firearms at the time of manufacture in accordance with Article 4;
12. ‘
illicit trafficking
’
means the acquisition, sale, delivery, movement or transfer of firearms, their essential components or ammunition from or through the territory of one Member State to that of another Member State if any one of the Member States concerned does not authorise it in accordance with this Directive or if the firearms, essential components or ammunition are not marked in accordance with Article 4;
13. ‘
tracing
’
means the systematic tracking of firearms and, where possible, their essential components and ammunition from manufacturer to purchaser for the purpose of assisting the competent authorities of Member States in detecting, investigating and analysing illicit manufacturing and illicit trafficking.
2
For the purposes of this Directive, a person shall be considered to be a resident of the country indicated by the address appearing on an official document showing his or her place of residence, such as a passport or a national identity card, which, on a check on acquisition or on possession, is submitted to the competent authorities of a Member State or to a dealer or broker. If a person's address does not appear on his or her passport or national identity card, his or her country of residence shall be determined on the basis of any other official proof of residence recognised by the Member State concerned.
3
A
‘
European firearms pass
’
shall be issued on request by the competent authorities of a Member State to a person lawfully entering into possession of and using a firearm. It shall be valid for a maximum period of 5 years, which may be extended, and shall contain the information set out in Annex II. It shall be non-transferable and shall record the firearm or firearms possessed and used by the holder of the pass. It must always be in the possession of the person using the firearm and any change in the possession or characteristics of the firearm, as well as the loss or theft thereof, shall be indicated on the pass.
Article 2
1
This Directive is without prejudice to the application of national provisions concerning the carrying of weapons, hunting or target shooting, using weapons lawfully acquired and possessed in accordance with this Directive.
2
This Directive shall not apply to the acquisition or possession of weapons and ammunition, in accordance with national law, by the armed forces, the police or the public authorities. Nor shall it apply to transfers regulated by Directive 2009/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council .
Article 3
Member States may adopt in their legislation provisions which are more stringent than those provided for in this Directive, subject to the rights conferred on residents of the Member States by Article 12 (2).
CHAPTER 2

Harmonization of legislation concerning firearms
Article 4
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.
That data-filing system shall record all information relating to firearms which is needed in order to trace and identify those firearms, including:
1. 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;
2. 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;
3. the names and addresses of the suppliers and of the persons acquiring or possessing the firearm, together with the relevant date or dates; and
4. 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.
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.
5
Member States shall ensure that all firearms may be linked to their owner at any moment.
Article 4a
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.
Article 4b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Article 5
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).
Article 5a
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.
Article 5b
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
, 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:
1. a licensed or authorised dealer or broker; or
2. a public authority or a representative of that authority.
Article 6
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:
1. 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
2. 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.
Article 7
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.
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.
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.
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
.
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
. 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.
Article 8
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.
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.
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).
Article 9
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.
Article 10
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.
Article 10a
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
.
Article 10b
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
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.
CHAPTER 3

Formalities for the movement of weapons within the Union
Article 11
1
Firearms may, without prejudice to Article 12, be transferred from one Member State to another only in accordance with the procedure laid down in this Article. That procedure shall also apply in respect of transfers of firearms following a sale by means of a distance contract as defined in point (7) of Article 2 of Directive 2011/83/EU.
2
Where a firearm is to be transferred to another Member State, the person concerned shall, before it is taken there, supply the following particulars to the Member State in which such firearm is situated:
- the names and addresses of the person selling or disposing of the firearm and of the person purchasing or acquiring it or, where appropriate, of the owner,
- the address to which the firearm is to be consigned or transported,
- the number of firearms to be consigned or transported,
- the particulars enabling the firearm to be identified and also an indication that the firearm has undergone a check in accordance with the Convention of 1 July 1969 on the Reciprocal Recognition of Proofmarks on Small Arms,
- the means of transfer,
- the date of departure and the estimated date of arrival.
The information referred to in the last two indents need not be supplied where the transfer takes place between dealers.
The Member State shall examine the conditions under which the transfer is to be carried out, in particular with regard to security.
Where the Member State authorizes such transfer, it shall issue a licence incorporating all the particulars referred to in the first subparagraph. Such licence shall accompany the firearm until it reaches its destination; it shall be produced whenever so required by the authorities of the Member States.
3
In the case of transfer of the firearms, other than weapons of war, excluded from the scope of this Directive pursuant to Article 2 (2), each Member State may grant dealers the right to effect transfers of firearms from its territory to a dealer established in another Member State without the prior authorization referred to in paragraph 2. To that end it shall issue an authorization valid for no more than three years, which may at any time be suspended or cancelled by reasoned decision. A document referring to that authorization must accompany the firearm until it reaches its destination; it must be produced whenever so required by the authorities of the Member States.
Prior to the date of transfer, the dealer shall communicate to the authorities of the Member State from which the transfer is to be effected all the particulars listed in the first subparagraph of paragraph 2. Those authorities shall carry out inspections, where appropriate on the spot, to verify the correspondence between the information communicated by the dealer and the actual characteristics of the transfer. The information shall be communicated by the dealer within a period allowing sufficient time.
4
Each Member State shall supply the other Member States with a list of firearms the transfer of which to its territory may be authorized without its prior consent.
Such lists of firearms shall be communicated to dealers who have obtained approval for transferring firearms without prior authorization under the procedure laid down in paragraph 3.
Article 12
1
If the procedure provided for in Article 11 is not employed, the possession of a firearm during a journey through two or more Member States shall not be permitted unless the person concerned has obtained the authorization of each of those Member States.
Member States may grant such authorization for one or more journeys for a maximum period of one year, subject to renewal. Such authorizations shall be entered on the European firearms pass, which the traveller must produce whenever so required by the authorities of the Member States.
2
Notwithstanding paragraph 1, hunters and historical re-enactors, in respect of firearms classified in category C, and target shooters, in respect of firearms classified in category B or C and firearms classified in category A for which an authorisation has been granted under Article 6(6) or for which the authorisation has been confirmed, renewed or prolonged under Article 7(4a), may, without the prior authorisation referred to in Article 11(2), be in possession of one or more firearms during a journey through two or more Member States with a view to engaging in their activities, provided that:
1. they are in possession of a European firearms pass listing such firearm or firearms; and
2. they are able to substantiate the reasons for their journey, in particular by producing an invitation or other proof of their hunting, target shooting or historical re-enactment activities in the Member State of destination.
Member States may not make acceptance of a European firearms pass conditional upon the payment of any fee or charge.
However, this derogation shall not apply to journeys to a Member State that, pursuant to Article 8(3), either prohibits the acquisition and possession of the firearm in question or makes it subject to authorisation. In that case, an express statement to that effect shall be entered on the European firearms pass. Member States may also refuse the application of this derogation in the case of firearms classified in category A for which an authorisation has been granted under Article 6(6) or for which the authorisation has been confirmed, renewed or prolonged under Article 7(4a).
In the context of the report referred to in Article 17, the Commission in consultation with the Member States, will also consider the effects of applying the second subparagraph, particularly as regards its impact on public order and public security.
3
Under agreements for the mutual recognition of national documents, two or more Member States may provide for arrangements more flexible than those prescribed in this Article for movement with firearms within their territories.
Article 13
1
Each Member State shall communicate all useful information at its disposal concerning definitive transfers of firearms to the Member State to the territory of which such a transfer has been effected.
2
All information that Member States receive by way of the procedures laid down in Article 11 for transfers of firearms and in Article 7 (2) and Article 8 (2) for the acquisition and possession of firearms by non-residents shall be communicated, not later than the time of the relevant transfers, to the Member States of destination and, where appropriate, not later than the time of transfer to the Member States of transit.
3
For the purposes of the efficient application of this Directive, Member States shall exchange information on a regular basis. To this end, the Commission shall set up, by
28 July 2009
, a contact group for the exchange of information for the purposes of applying this Article. Member States shall inform each other and the Commission of the national authorities responsible for transmitting and receiving information and for complying with the obligations set out in Article 11(4).
4
The competent authorities of the Member States shall exchange, by electronic means, information on the authorisations granted for the transfer of firearms to another Member State and information with regard to refusals to grant authorisations as provided for in Articles 6 and 7 on grounds of security or relating to the reliability of the person concerned.
5
The Commission shall provide for a system for the exchange of information mentioned in this Article.
The Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 13a in order to supplement this Directive by laying down the detailed arrangements for the systematic exchange of information by electronic means. The Commission shall adopt the first such delegated act by
14 September 2018
.
Article 13a
1
The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.
2
The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 13(5) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from
13 June 2017
.
3
The delegation of power referred to in Article 13(5) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the
Official Journal of the European Union
or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
4
Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of
13 April 2016
on Better Law-Making.
5
As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.
6
A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 13(5) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of 2 months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by 2 months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
Article 13b
1
The Commission shall be assisted by a committee. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council .
2
Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.
Article 14
Member States shall adopt all relevant provisions prohibiting entry into their territory:
- of a firearm except in the cases defined in Articles 11 and 12 and provided the conditions laid down therein are met,
- of a weapon other than a firearm provided that the national provisions of the Member State in question so permit.
CHAPTER 4

Final provisions
Article 15
1
Member States shall intensify controls on the possession of weapons at external Union frontiers. They shall in particular ensure that travellers from third countries who intend to proceed to another Member State comply with Article 12.
2
This Directive shall not preclude the carrying out of controls by Member States or by the carrier at the time of boarding of a means of transport.
3
Member States shall inform the Commission of the manner in which the controls referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 are carried out. The Commission shall collate this information and make it available to all Member States.
4
Member States shall notify the Commission of their national provisions, including changes relating to the acquisition and possession of weapons, where the national law is more stringent than the minimum standard they are required to adopt. The Commission shall pass on such information to the other Member States.
Article 16
Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
Article 17
By
14 September 2020
, and every 5 years thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report on the application of this Directive, including a fitness check of its provisions, accompanied, if appropriate, by legislative proposals concerning, in particular, the categories of firearms in Annex I and issues related to the implementation of the system for the European firearms pass, to marking and the impacts of new technologies such as 3D printing, the use of QR code and the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID).
Article 18
Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive in good time so that the measures provided for by this Directive may be put into effect not later than 1 January 1993. They shall forthwith inform the Commission and the other Member States of the measures taken.
When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by the Member States.
Article 19
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
ANNEX I
I.
For the purposes of this Directive, ‘weapon’ means:
- any firearm as defined in Article 1 of the Directive,
- weapons other than firearms as defined in national legislation.
II.
For the purposes of this Directive, firearms are classified in the following categories:
A.
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.
Category A —

Prohibited firearms
1.
Explosive military missiles and launchers.
2.
Automatic firearms.
3.
Firearms disguised as other objects.
4.
Ammunition with penetrating, explosive or incendiary projectiles, and the projectiles for such ammunition.
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.
6.
Automatic firearms which have been converted into semi-automatic firearms, without prejudice to Article 7(4a).
7.

Any of the following centre-fire semi-automatic firearms:
1. short firearms which allow the firing of more than 21 rounds without reloading, if:
  1. a loading device with a capacity exceeding 20 rounds is part of that firearm; or
  2. a detachable loading device with a capacity exceeding 20 rounds is inserted into it;
2. long firearms which allow the firing of more than 11 rounds without reloading, if:
  1. a loading device with a capacity exceeding 10 rounds is part of that firearm; or
  2. 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.
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.
Category B —

Firearms subject to authorisation
1.
Repeating short firearms.
2.
Single-shot short firearms with centre-fire percussion.
3.
Single-shot short firearms with rimfire percussion whose overall length is less than 28 cm.
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.
5.
Semi-automatic short firearms other than those listed under point 7(a) of category A.
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.
7.
Repeating and semi-automatic long firearms with smooth-bore barrels not exceeding 60 cm in length.
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.
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.
Category C —

Firearms and weapons subject to declaration
1.
Repeating long firearms other than those listed in point 7 of category B.
2.
Long firearms with single-shot rifled barrels.
3.
Semi-automatic long firearms other than those listed in category A or B.
4.
Single-shot short firearms with rimfire percussion whose overall length is not less than 28 cm.
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.
6.
Firearms classified in category A or B or this category that have been deactivated in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2403.
7.
Single-shot long firearms with smooth-bore barrels placed on the market on or after
14 September 2018
.
Category D —

Other firearms
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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:
1. 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;
2. 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:
1. ‘short firearm’ means a firearm with a barrel not exceeding 30 centimetres or whose overall length does not exceed 60 centimetres;
2. ‘long firearm’ means any firearm other than a short firearm;
3. ‘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;
4. ‘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;
5. ‘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;
6. ‘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;
7. ‘ammunition with penetrating projectiles’ means ammunition for military use where the projectile is jacketed and has a penetrating hard core;
8. ‘ammunition with explosive projectiles’ means ammunition for military use where the projectile contains a charge which explodes on impact;
9. ‘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.
ANNEX II

EUROPEAN FIREARMS PASS
The pass must include the following sections:
1. identity of the holder;
2. identification of the weapon or firearm, including a reference to the category within the meaning of the Directive;
3. period of validity of the pass;
4. section for use by the Member State issuing the pass (type and references of authorizations, etc.);
5. section for entries by other Member States (authorizations to enter their territory, etc.);
6. the statements:
The right to travel to another Member State with one or more of the firearms classified in category A, B or C mentioned in this pass shall be subject to one or more prior corresponding authorisations from the Member State visited. Such authorisations may be recorded on the pass.
The prior authorisation referred to above is not in principle necessary in order to travel with a firearm classified in category C with a view to engaging in hunting or historical re-enactment activities or with a firearm classified in category A, B or C for the purpose of taking part in target shooting, on condition that the traveller is in possession of the firearms pass and can establish the reason for the journey.
Where a Member State has informed the other Member States, in accordance with Article 8(3), that the possession of certain firearms classified in category B or C is prohibited or subject to authorisation, one of the following statements shall be added:
‘ A journey to … (State(s) concerned) with the firearm … (identification) shall be prohibited. ’
‘ A journey to … (State(s) concerned) with the firearm … (identification) shall be subject to authorisation. ’
OJ No C 235, 1.9.1987, p. 8 and OJ No C 299, 28.11.1989, p. 6.
OJ No C 231, 17.9.1990, p. 69 and OJ No C 158, 17.6.1991, p. 89.
OJ No C 35, 8.2.1988, p. 5.
Directive 2009/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of
6 May 2009
simplifying terms and conditions of transfers of defence-related products within the Community (
OJ L 146, 10.6.2009, p. 1
).
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
).
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
).
OJ L 179, 8.7.2008, p. 5 .
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
).
Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of
16 February 2011
laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (
OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13
).
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).
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.
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.
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).
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).
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).
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 No L 256 of 13 September 1991).