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

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EU Directives are published on this site to aid cross referencing from UK legislation. Since IP completion day (31 December 2020 11.00 p.m.) no amendments have been applied to this version.

  1. Introductory Text

  2. CHAPTER 1 Scope

    1. Article 1.(1) For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions...

    2. Article 2.(1) This Directive is without prejudice to the application of...

    3. Article 3.Member States may adopt in their legislation provisions which are...

  3. CHAPTER 2 Harmonization of legislation concerning firearms

    1. Article 4.(1) With respect to firearms manufactured or imported into the...

    2. Article 4a.Without prejudice to Article 3, Member States shall allow the...

    3. Article 4b.. . . . . . . . . ....

    4. Article 5.(1) Without prejudice to Article 3, Member States shall permit...

    5. Article 5a.In order to minimise the risk of firearms and ammunition...

    6. Article 5b.Member States shall ensure that, in cases involving the acquisition...

    7. Article 6.(1) Without prejudice to Article 2(2), Member States shall take...

    8. Article 7.(1) No one may acquire a firearm classified in category...

    9. Article 8.(1) No one may be in possession of a firearm...

    10. Article 9.(1) The handing over of a firearm classified in category...

    11. Article 10.(1) The arrangements for the acquisition and possession of ammunition...

    12. Article 10a.(1) Member States shall take measures to ensure that devices...

    13. Article 10b.(1) Member States shall make arrangements for the deactivation of...

  4. CHAPTER 3 Formalities for the movement of weapons within the Union

    1. Article 11.(1) Firearms may, without prejudice to Article 12, be transferred...

    2. Article 12.(1) If the procedure provided for in Article 11 is...

    3. Article 13.(1) Each Member State shall communicate all useful information at...

    4. Article 13a.(1) The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on...

    5. Article 13b.(1) The Commission shall be assisted by a committee. That...

    6. Article 14.Member States shall adopt all relevant provisions prohibiting entry into...

  5. CHAPTER 4 Final provisions

    1. Article 15.(1) Member States shall intensify controls on the possession of...

    2. Article 16.Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable...

    3. Article 17.By 14 September 2020 , and every 5 years thereafter,...

    4. Article 18.Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and...

    5. Article 19.This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

    1. ANNEX I

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

      2. II. For the purposes of this Directive, firearms are classified in...

        1. A. Any object which falls into one of the following categories,...

          1. Category A — Prohibited firearms

            1. 1. Explosive military missiles and launchers.

            2. 2. Automatic firearms.

            3. 3. Firearms disguised as other objects.

            4. 4. Ammunition with penetrating, explosive or incendiary projectiles, and the projectiles...

            5. 5. Pistol and revolver ammunition with expanding projectiles and the projectiles...

            6. 6. Automatic firearms which have been converted into semi-automatic firearms, without...

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

            8. 8. Semi-automatic long firearms (i.e. firearms that are originally intended to...

            9. 9. Any firearm in this category that has been converted to...

          2. Category B — Firearms subject to authorisation

            1. 1. Repeating short firearms.

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

            3. 3. Single-shot short firearms with rimfire percussion whose overall length is...

            4. 4. Semi-automatic long firearms whose loading device and chamber can together...

            5. 5. Semi-automatic short firearms other than those listed under point 7(a)...

            6. 6. Semi-automatic long firearms listed under point 7(b) of category A...

            7. 7. Repeating and semi-automatic long firearms with smooth-bore barrels not exceeding...

            8. 8. Any firearm in this category that has been converted to...

            9. 9. Semi-automatic firearms for civilian use which resemble weapons with automatic...

          3. Category C — Firearms and weapons subject to declaration

            1. 1. Repeating long firearms other than those listed in point 7...

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

            3. 3. Semi-automatic long firearms other than those listed in category A...

            4. 4. Single-shot short firearms with rimfire percussion whose overall length is...

            5. 5. Any firearm in this category that has been converted to...

            6. 6. Firearms classified in category A or B or this category...

            7. 7. Single-shot long firearms with smooth-bore barrels placed on the market...

          4. Category D — Other firearms

        2. B. . . . . . . . . . ....

      3. III. For the purposes of this Annex, objects which correspond to...

      4. IV. For the purposes of this Annex:

    2. ANNEX II

      EUROPEAN FIREARMS PASS

      1. The pass must include the following sections:

      2. identity of the holder; identification of the weapon or firearm,...

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