News – The European Association of the Civil Commerce of Weapons

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

News, Press Releases / Peter Brass / 2024-10-17

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

News, Press Releases / Peter Brass / 2024-09-26

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)

News, Press Releases / Peter Brass / 2024-07-26

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.

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

News, Press Releases / Peter Brass / 2024-07-12

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.

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

News, Press Releases / Peter Brass / 2024-06-07

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.

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 »

AECAC modernizes statutes and elects honorary president

Election, News / Peter Brass / 2024-03-07

At the annual general meeting on 1st March 2024 in Nuremberg, the debate focused on the European policy challenges of our industry and the realignment and modernization of the association’s statutes. At the same time, the association has appointed former long-time president Yves Golléty as honorary president at the IWA Outdoors fair.

In the run-up to the meeting, several amendments to the statutes had been received in due time. The aim was to modernize the association and make it fit for the current challenges. AECAC President Michael Blendinger emphasized the need for membership to be extended to several associations per country and also to companies. “Ultimately, the size of our membership determines our political weight in Brussels. Therefore, it is important that we increase our impact in the face of the political challenges ahead. I am very grateful to the members that all motions were adopted unanimously,” commented Michael Blendinger on the outcome of the debate.

At least in the short term, the all-clear came from Brussels politics. AECAC Secretary-General Peter Brass reported that the consultations between the European Parliament and the Member States on the new Firearms Regulation are stuck. As things stand, it does not look as if a compromise before the European elections in June 2024 can be reached.

The same applies to the planned ban on lead ammunition. Originally, the European Commission wanted to put a concrete proposal up for discussion in the responsible member states’ committees at the end of February. This has now been postponed to the summer. “This news is good for the time being, and it is also partly due to our ongoing political work in Brussels. At the same time, however, it does not mean that the discussions are off the table. They will continue in the new legislative period. So, we have to remain vigilant,” concluded Peter Brass.

There was also broad agreement on the last item on the agenda. The long-time president of the AECAC, Yves Golléty, was unanimously appointed Honorary President by the members present. AECAC (and VDB) President and his successor, Michael Blendinger, thanked Mr. Golléty for his many years of active commitment.

AECAC modernizes statutes and elects honorary president Read More »

2023: European Firearms Regulation on the home stretch

News, Press Releases / Peter Brass / 2023-12-08

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

(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 »

AECAC holds meetings on the revision of the EU Firearms Regulation

News / Peter Brass / 2023-10-09

The update of the firearms regulation has been published in fall 2022 and shall be agreed on by EU policy-makers before the coming European elections in June 2024. Especially for the trade with third countries the plans of the Commission could lead to additional bureaucracy and hinder the business of our sector.

To communicate the perspective of our sector, AECAC secretary general Peter Braß held a number of political meetings in Brussels in September 2023. The focus was on the planned reform of the regulation. The (final) voting processes in the European Parliament shall take place in the next few weeks. There is pressure to start negotiations with the Council in a timely manner. Otherwise, the discussions must continue after the European elections, i.e. not before 2025.

The AECAC was also invited to a panel discussion on the regulation, which was organised by the European Hunting Federation (FACE) on 20 September in the European Parliament.

In addition to that, the AECAC leadership also held talks with a number of regional offices. This is because many regulations have to be implemented by the local authorities in the member states.

AECAC holds meetings on the revision of the EU Firearms Regulation Read More »

AECAC elects new leadership team

News / Peter Brass / 2023-03-07

After three long years, we had the opportunity to once again hold a personal general assembly of the AECAC in Nuremberg, Germany, on 3 March 2023.

In addition to the start of a debate on the further development of our association, the focus was also on the various political challenges at European level – ranging from the ban on lead ammunition to the legislative framework for firearms.

In addition, various internal elections were held in Nuremberg.

Michael Blendinger (Germany) was elected President of the AECAC.
Angelos Pitsillides (Cyprus) was elected Vice-President of the AECAC.

Peter Brass (Germany) was elected Secretary General of the AECAC.

The following were elected as members of the Executive Committee of the AECAC:

George Kirgias (Greece)
Palle Skov Hansen (Denmark)

New president Michael Blendinger thanked our former president Yves Golléty for his many years of commitment to our interests and to our sector.

“Our sector is facing challenges in the short and the long-term – ranging from issues such as the implementation of and possible compensation for the lead ban to the looming reform of the EU firearms regulation and directive. It is now my firm intention and wish that we make our association fit for the future. I count on the support of every member for this”, said Michael Blendinger.

Photo from left to right

Palle Skov Hansen (Denmark), George Kirgias (Greece), Angelos Pitsillides (Cyprus), Michael Blendinger (Germany), Yves Golléty (France)

AECAC elects new leadership team Read More »

Exchange with the Chairman of the EU Agriculture Committee Norbert Lins (EPP)

News / Peter Brass / 2022-12-02

On Friday December 2nd, 2022, Peter Brass (Representative of Interest of the German Gunsmith and Gun Trade Association VDB) met with Norbert Lins, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) on behalf of AECAC Secretary-General Michael Blendinger, at the Mueller Shooting Center in Ulm (MSZU),.

As the Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, Mr. Lins is particularly familiar with hunting related issues. This also includes the EU firearms law, which is currently being amended.

At the invitation of the AECAC and VDB, Mr. Lins visited us for a detailed tour of the shooting center. He was impressed by the size of the company – from 300m shooting range to the large shop.

A key topic in the subsequent political exchange was the upcoming amendment to the European Firearms Regulation. The EU Commission presented its draft for this at the end of October 2022.

Peter Brass expressed concerns on several points. The planned introduction of a so-called End-User-Certificate, which is to be introduced in the international trade in civilian firearms, is simply not feasible. Labeling requirements for weapons to be imported into the EU only often only have to be fulfilled within the EU. “You have to keep in mind that not all countries have the same requirements”, Peter Brass stated.

Norbert Lins stated that the International Trade Committee in the European Parliament is expected to be responsible for the EU regulation. However, any changes should be made with caution. Germany itself already has one of the strictest gun laws, emphasized the MEP. He would like to campaign for understanding within his group.

The interlocutors were relieved that the current EU Commission probably does not want to rewrite the Firearms Directive. An evaluation would not be due until 2025 (after the European elections). Nevertheless, there are enough political issues: „With the national gun law reform in Germany and the EU Firearms Regulation, we have two important issues right at the beginning of the new year that will go into parliamentary deliberations,” explained Peter Brass.

Exchange with the Chairman of the EU Agriculture Committee Norbert Lins (EPP) — Exchange with Norbert Lins (EPP)

Picture from left to right:

Georg Geismar (Teamleader Sales MSZU); Dr. Thomas Kienle (fraction leader of the CDU town-fraction); MEP Norbert Lins; Peter Brass (Respresentative of Interest); Peter Husen (VDB political consultant)

Exchange with the Chairman of the EU Agriculture Committee Norbert Lins (EPP) Read More »