22.—(1) In this Order “Article 7 authority” means a document issued under paragraph (2) or (4).
(2) Where a person who resides in Northern Ireland is granted, or is the holder of, a firearm certificate, he shall be entitled to be issued by the Chief Constable with a document stating that, for the purposes of Article 7 of the European weapons directive, the holder of the firearm certificate has the agreement of the United Kingdom authorities, for so long as the firearm certificate remains in force, to any purchase or acquisition by him in another member State of any firearm or ammunition to which the firearm certificate relates.
(3) A person may make an application for the issue of an Article 7 authority under paragraph (2)—
(a)at the same time as an application for a firearm certificate which will entitle him to the issue of the document under that paragraph; or
(b)subsequently while the firearm certificate is in force.
(4) Where—
(a)a person who resides in Northern Ireland is proposing to purchase or acquire any firearm or ammunition in another member State;
(b)he is not the holder of a firearm certificate relating to that firearm or ammunition;
(c)the firearm falls within category B for the purposes of Annex I to the European weapons directive or the ammunition is capable of being used with such a firearm; and
(d)he satisfies the Chief Constable that he is not proposing to bring that firearm or ammunition into the United Kingdom,
the Chief Constable may issue him with a document stating that, for the purposes of Article 7 of the European weapons directive, he has the agreement of the United Kingdom authorities to any purchase or acquisition by him in another member State of that firearm or ammunition.