Imports, Variances, Stamps & Verification Guides

Guides and Publications

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ATF 20P (220.71 KB) Importation of Defense Articles and Defense Services-U.S. Munitions Import Lists (2011R-20P) - The Department of Justice is amending Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulations to remove the cross reference to the regulatory United States Munitions List (USML) of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) that appears at 27 CFR 447.21; to clarify that the Attorney General exercises delegated authority pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and Executive Order 13637 to designate defense articles and defense services as part of the statutory  SML for purposes of permanent import controls, regardless of whether the Secretary of State controls such defense articles or defense services for purposes of export and temporary import; and to clarify that defense articles and defense services controlled pursuant to the Attorney General’s delegated AECA authority are part of the statutory USML (along with those that are controlled for export and temporary import by the Secretary of State), but that the list of defense articles and defense services controlled by the Attorney General is labeled the USMIL to distinguish it from the list of defense articles and defense services in the ITAR that are controlled by the Secretary of State.
 
ATF 25I (235.65 KB) Importation of Arms, Ammunition and Defense Articles--Removal of Certain Defense Articles Currently on the U.S. Munitions Import List That No Longer Warrant Import Control Under the Arms Export Control Act.”  The effective date of this finale rule is April 28, 2014.  Comments on this interim final rule are due on or before June 25, 2014.  To submit a comment electronically, use the http://www.regulations.govfor Docket No. ATF 25I.  To submit comments by mail or fax, see the instructions included within the notice.  To view all comments and documents associated with this rulemaking, go to http://www.regulations.gov.
ATF 43P (212.4 KB) Importation of Arms, Ammunition and Implements of War and Machine Guns, Destructive Devices, and Certain Other Firearms; Extending the Term of Import Permits (2010R–26P). The effective date of this final rule is April 8, 2014. - This rule amends the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to extend the standard term of import permits for firearms, ammunition, and defense articles from 1 year to 2 years. The additional time will allow importers sufficient time to complete the importation of the authorized commodity. In addition, it will eliminate the need for the importer to submit a new import application, ATF Form 6, where the importation was not completed within the 1-year period.
 
ATF 9F (72.52 KB)

This final rule conforms the regulations in 27 CFR Part 447 to the revised International Traffic in Arms Regulations by amending the list of countries from which the importation of defense articles into the United States is proscribed by adding Afghanistan and removing South Africa and some of the states composing the former Soviet Union (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan). The rule also removes the arms embargo against the countries of Serbia and Montenegro. It also clarifies an outdated reference in the regulations to Zaire, currently known as the ‘‘Democratic Republic of the Congo,’’ and makes a miscellaneous technical amendment to the regulations.

ATF Guidebook - Importation & Verification of Firearms, Ammunition, and Implements of War (4.63 MB)

This publication was prepared by ATF's Firearms and Explosives Imports Branch (FEIB) to assist importers and other firearms industry members in identifying firearms, ammunition, and defense articles that may be imported into the United States and to further clarify and facilitate the import process.

Guidance for Requesting Marking Variances (196 KB)
Licensed manufacturers and importers are required to mark firearms manufactured or imported with specific identifying information.  ATF may authorize other means of identification ("marking variance") upon receipt of a letter application from a licensed manufacturer or importer.
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