Press Releases

ECHA’s Proposed Lead Ammunition Ban Faces Cost Concerns: New Study Reveals Financial Challenges for Shooting Ranges

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The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has proposed restrictions on the use of lead ammunition across the EU for hunting and sports shooting. A recent study commissioned by the European Shooting Sports Forum (ESSF) highlights a significant underestimation of the costs associated with upgrading shooting ranges to comply with ECHA’s proposed regulations, amounting to a potential shortfall of €4-5 billion. The study reveals that most ranges across Europe are not equipped to meet these stringent requirements, raising substantial economic and practical concerns. Stakeholders are calling on the European Commission to consider alternative risk management solutions that achieve environmental and health objectives without imposing disproportionate financial burdens on the shooting sports community.

To the article.

Picture: Remy Gieling / unsplash.com

ECHA’s Proposed Lead Ammunition Ban Faces Cost Concerns: New Study Reveals Financial Challenges for Shooting Ranges Read More »

AECAC in political meetings and at FACE General Assembly in Brussels

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From 24 to 25 September, the presidents of Europe’s national hunting associations, representing over 7 million hunters, met in Brussels for the FACE General Assembly. An important highlight of the event was the election of the new FACE President and the appointment of the FACE Board members.

The FACE members elected Laurens Hoedemaker from the Netherlands as their new president. The AECAC wishes Mr. Hoedemaker all the best for the coming political challenges and thanks the outgoing President Torbjörn Larsson for the many years of good co-operation!

AECAC Secretary-General Peter Brass used the occasion to meet with various associations dealing with firearms law. In addition, there was the opportunity in the European Parliament to find out about the composition of the committees and to meet MEPs. The AECAC was also able to exchange ideas with the responsible officials within the EU Commission. The last national plans for the implementation of the current EU rules are currently being examined. In 2026, the EU Firearms Directive is to be evaluated.

Laurens Hoedemaker and Peter Brass

 “The EU provides the framework for our member companies at the national level. From the beginning of this legislative period, we will therefore hold talks with decision-makers and opinion leaders on firearms law in Brussels to fight for the interests of our member companies,” said AECAC Secretary-General Peter Brass, explaining the association’s political approach.

AECAC in political meetings and at FACE General Assembly in Brussels Read More »

Constructive exchange with MEP Christine Schneider (EPP)

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Another stop on the constituency campaign tour took us on the 26th of July to the beautiful district town of Bad Dürkheim in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, to meet with German EPP-MEP Christine Schneider.
We visited one of the town’s oldest craft businesses, Waffen Walther. This traditional company was founded in 1815. The current owner and master gunsmith Patrick Fell-Rathmacher took over the business from the Walther family in 2002.

At EU level, Mrs Schneider focuses on agriculture, forestry and the environment. Following her re-election in June 2024, she became Parliamentary Secretary of the German CDU/CSU group in the European Parliament.
After welcoming us, Mr Fell-Rathmacher gave Mrs Schneider a tour of the shop. We then used the premises of his hunting school to talk to her about current issues such as the Firearms Regulation, the Firearms Directive and ‘lead in ammunition’. Over the past years, the AECAC has been in close contact with MEP Schneider on these issues.

The MEP has been a passionate hunter herself for over 20 years and is very familiar with the debate on European and national firearms legislation. She emphasised that close contact with Brussels is essential, as laws are made there that must be transposed into national law by the member states.

A sense of proportion is particularly important when it comes to implementation. “Over-regulation and unnecessary bureaucracy only hinder the authorities and do not lead to any real increase in safety”, says Schneider. “Legal gun owners and innocent citizens should not be placed under general suspicion”, she continues.

Now that her party-colleague Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected President of the European Commission, personnel decisions are being made in Brussels and responsibilities are being allocated. As soon as this has happened, it will be necessary to closely monitor how the issues that were not finalised during the last legislative period are dealt with.

We would like to thank MEP Schneider for her time, the intensive discussion and her offer to continue exchanging ideas. 

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Picture from left to right: Kai Hauck (Waffenbau Hauck), Peter Braß (VDB), Christine Schneider (MEP) and Patrick-Fell-Rathmacher (Waffen Walther)

Constructive exchange with MEP Christine Schneider (EPP) Read More »

Constituency campaign with MEP Norbert Lins at Lake Constance

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After the European elections and while the EU institutions reshuffle their political personnel, we take the opportunity to meet members of parliament in their constituencies. On 12th July, AECAC Secretary General Peter Brass met with MEP Norbert Lins (EPP).
The focus was on setting the course for European policy after the elections in June and the debates on EU firearms legislation and the impending lead ban.

Our exchange with Mr Lins, who chaired the influential Committee on Agriculture in the European Parliament during the last legislative period, took place in one of the most beautiful spots in Germany, at Lake Constance.

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Picture from left to right: MEP Norbert Lins, Peter Brass

Lins reported on the preparations to secure the necessary majority for his party colleague Ursula von der Leyen in the European Parliament in mid-July. In view of the election results, talks with various political groups were necessary in order to finalise this important personnel matter before the summer break in Brussels.

The MEP confirmed that the Commission has still not presented its proposal to ban leaded ammunition. However, this is expected in the coming weeks. The rules, transitional periods and requirements would then have to be analyzed in detail. The parliament in Strasbourg and the member states will then have to approve the proposals. Important personnel decisions are currently being made in the European Parliament: Who will take on which office?
Who will sit on which committee?

Norbert Lins strongly advised us to seek dialogue with the new MEPs at an early stage. Peter Brass was able to reassure the MEP: The AECAC will be back in Brussels, the political capital of Europe, for talks in September. One key reason: The European Firearms Directive is to be evaluated as early as next year – possible new legislative proposals from Brussels could then quickly be on the agenda.

‘It is not unlikely that we will see a parliamentary debate on firearms legislation in Brussels and Strasbourg soon, which makes exchanges such as today’s with Mr Lins, whom I would like to thank warmly for the discussion, all the more important,’ said Peter Brass, summarizing the afternoon at Lake Constance.

Constituency campaign with MEP Norbert Lins at Lake Constance Read More »

Meeting with MEP Lena Düpont in her German constituency

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In conjunction with the German Gunsmith and Gun Trad Association (VDB), AECAC met on the 6th of June in Braunschweig, Germany. Our political guest was Lower Saxony’s MEP Lena Düpont (EPP), with whom we had been in regular exchange on EU topics such as the EU Firearms Regulation. In addition to a tour of the master gunsmith Knappworst, the exchange focussed on the European policy challenges for our industry in the coming legislative term.

At the invitation of Managing Director Stefan Knappworst, we were able to start our political summer tour three days before the European elections. First of all, the MEP was given a detailed tour of the company, from the shop to the workshop. Three generations of the Knappworst family were on hand to provide the politician with insights into the business and everyday working life. Our message: Bureaucracy and administrative requirements are already on a very high level. An increase in political regulations is a huge burden on companies and authorities – but do not lead to any increase in public safety.

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Picture Picture from left to right:
Peter Husen, Stefan Knappworst, MEP Lena Düpont, Susanne Knappworst, Peter Braß

The MEP reported from Brussels that an evaluation of the EU Firearms Directive would probably be due next year. According to the MEP from the town of Gifhorn, it is important that the affected associations and industry companies get involved at an early stage and contribute their expertise to the discussions in Brussels. A revision of the directive is by no means ruled out.

Finally, there was some good news from the family-run company. The 180-year-old traditional company Knappworst is expanding and will be moving to the newly built site at Waller See in Schwülper this autumn.
Mrs Düpont was invited to the opening as a guest of honour.

‘We would like to thank Stefan and Susanne Knappworst for their hospitality. And we would especially like to thank Lena Düpont for taking a whole afternoon to address our political concerns so close to the elections. ‘Brussels is and remains important,’ said AECAC Secretary-General Peter Brass, summarising the successful exchange.

Meeting with MEP Lena Düpont in her German constituency Read More »

2023: European Firearms Regulation on the home stretch

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After the European Parliament in October, the EU member states agreed in the Council in late November 2023 on a negotiating position on the European regulation on the import and export of civilian firearms. Negotiations between the two institutions start in mid-December and are expected to be completed in spring 2024. For this reason, the AECAC was in Brussels for political talks on 5 and 6 December 2023.

Peter Brass and Peter Husen in conversation with the President of the European Hunting Association (FACE) Torbjörn Larsson
Peter Brass and Peter Husen in conversation with the President of the European Hunting Association (FACE) Torbjörn Larsson

(Picture by Alexander Louvet)

Since the trade of civil firearms is directly affected by the proposals, the AECAC accompanied the debates since autumn 2022 to position the interests of our members at the political level. The draft regulation gave serious cause for concern for our trade sector. For example, political demands for end-user certificates and mandatory markings upon arrival in the EU had the potential to seriously harm our business and create additional bureaucracy – without increasing the security of citizens.

To discuss these issues, our Secretary-General Peter Braß held further talks with MEPs, trade association representatives and regional offices in early December 2023. 
“I am slightly optimistic that the most bureaucratic and potentially harmful measures are off the table. The original ideas would have led to enormous burdens for our trade sector. Now we must closely follow the last steps of the process,” said Peter Braß, summing up the pre-Christmas business trip to Brussels.

2023: European Firearms Regulation on the home stretch Read More »

Press release of the EU Commission on the EU Firearms Regulation 258/2012

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Firearms: Updated regulations to increase security and facilitate legal trade

Brussels, October 27th, 2022: Today, the Commission is proposing to update EU rules on the import, export and transit of firearms for civilian use. As many as 35 million illicit firearms are estimated to be in the hands of civilians in the EU, and around 630,000 firearms are listed as stolen or lost in the Schengen Information System. The updated rules will facilitate the legal trade of firearms for civilian use and reduce the administrative burden of firearms manufacturers, dealers and users. The revised rules will enhance security and address firearms trafficking, and will enable coordinated controls and risk assessments to improve the traceability of firearms.

Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, said: “Firearms trafficking feeds organised crime within the EU and breeds political instability in the EU’s neighbourhood. With the development of fast parcel delivery and of new technologies, trafficking of firearms is taking new forms to escape controls. As legislators, we need to catch up. The reform we are proposing will close down the loopholes in the existing rules which are often circumvented, leading to firearms being smuggled and diverted into the EU.”

Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said: “Criminals are constantly changing how they smuggle deadly weapons into the European Union. We need to stay one step ahead. EU internal security to reduce the illegal use and trafficking of firearms must be built on good law enforcement cooperation, good intelligence, and transparent procedures. This proposal does that. Today’s proposal also simplifies rules for legitimate firearms owners and businesses.” 

The updated rules will include:

  • Clear and common procedures for the import, export and transit of firearms for civilian use, their essential components, ammunitions and alarm and signal weapons. For example, the current proposal will exempt firearms manufacturers, dealers, and users from a fee to obtain an import or export authorisation.
  • Simplified import and export procedures for hunters, sport shooters and exhibitors: notably no prior import or export authorisation for hunters with a European Firearms Pass will be required. 
  • A new EU electronic licensing system for firearms manufacturers and dealers to apply for import and export authorisation, replacing the diverse, mostly paper-based national systems. This new paperless system will save applicants time and simplify the process. The system will also be connected to the EU Single Window Environment for Customs.
  • Strict technical standards for alarm and signal weapons, which are devices manufactured to only be able to fire blank, tear gas or irritant ammunition. This will help avoid them being converted into lethal firearms. Any such weapons not complying with these standards would need to be imported as firearms. The Commission will also establish a list of non-convertible alarm and signal weapons, meaning devices which are not capable of being converted to expel a shot, bullet or projectile.
  • Stricter rules on semi-finished firearms components. They will be imported only by licensed dealers and brokers, reducing the threat of home-made firearms without marking or registration (“ghost guns”).
  • An end-user certificate for the more dangerous firearms. This document will certify that the buyer is the final recipient of the goods and does not plan on transferring them to someone else. This will reduce the risk of diversion of firearms from the legal to the black market during or after export.    
  • Strict checks on refusals to grant import or export authorisations. National authorities will have to check whether someone applying for an authorisation has already been refused one in another Member State. When an individual will be refused an import or export authorisation, the information will be shared with other Member States. This will prevent individuals from ‘shopping’ in another EU Member State to obtain such authorisation.

Next steps

It is now for the European Parliament and the Council to examine the proposal. Once adopted, the rules will be directly applicable across the EU.

 Background

The illicit flows of firearms, essential components and ammunitions facilitate serious and organised crime, including terrorism. They enable violence and support criminal businesses. Illicit firearms also affect other areas of organised crime, such as trafficking in drugs and human beings.

Today’s proposal was announced in 2020 and concerns firearms for civilian use only. The Russian military aggression in Ukraine increases the potential of proliferation of firearms. In the medium-term, these new rules will help reducing the risk of circumvention of embargos in the case of exports of firearms for civilian use and increasing the controls of the import of this kind of firearms from non-EU countries. 

As part of the Security Union Strategy, the Commission adopted the EU Strategy to tackle organised crime and the 2020-2025 Action plan on firearms trafficking. Today’s proposal aims to ensure consistency between the Firearms Directive and the EU Regulation on import and export of civilian firearms. Both texts should regulate the same types of firearms, essential components, and ammunition. The current Regulation mainly regulates the export of firearms for civilian use.

 

For more information

Press release of the EU Commission on the EU Firearms Regulation 258/2012 Read More »