Source: European Parliament
The Commission is aware of the economic importance of hunting tourism. One of the objectives of the recast Regulation on import, export and transit of firearms is to facilitate and decrease the administrative burden for temporary import and re-export of firearms for hunting excursions in the EU.
The full provision of the adopted text[1] quoted by the Honourable Member (Article 11(3) point c) reads as follows: The application for the import authorisation referred to in paragraph 2 shall include the following […] (c): the date and unique reference number of the authorisation, or equivalent, to own or possess a firearm and of the export authorisation from the third country, or where applicable, proof of the exception from that authorisation.
The reference to the ‘proof of exception from that authorisation’ acknowledges the fact that some third countries do not require an authorisation for owning a firearm or for exporting a firearm. Hunters from countries with no requirement for a firearms licence can therefore request an authorisation by submitting this proof to the competent authorities.
These rules will be applicable 48 months after the entry into force of the recast Regulation[2].