Publications

In accordance with 27 CFR 178.92 and 27 CFR 179.102, identification of firearms, armor piercing ammunition, and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, the terms "conspicuously" and "legibly" as used therein mean, respectively, that the markings are wholly unobstructed from plain view and that the markings contain exclusively Roman letters and Arabic numerals.

Published/Revised: November 5, 2002

This document contains a correction to a final rule published by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in the February 7, 2002.

Published/Revised: October 15, 2002

ATF amends the alcohol labeling and advertising rules to cross-reference the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) rules. Any alcohol beverage labeled or advertised with an organic claim must comply with both NOP rules administered by USDA and the applicable rules administered by ATF. Elsewhere in this separate part, ATF invites comments on this temporary rule. We will accept comments during the 60-day period following publication of the rule.

Published/Revised: October 8, 2002

Applications to transfer two (2) machineguns of a particular model to a federal firearms licensee as sales samples will be approved if documentation shows necessity for demonstration to government agencies.

Published/Revised: September 6, 2002

ATF will approve variances to store explosives in a residence or dwelling only upon certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of a certification of compliance with state and local law, and documentation that local fire safety officials have received a copy of the certification.

Published/Revised: August 23, 2002

ATF requires approval of variances for indoor storage of explosives in business premises directly adjacent to a residence or dwelling.

Published/Revised: August 23, 2002

This open letter contains information about recent changes that may affect your day-to-day operations and/or long-range plans regarding dealer sales samples of machineguns.

Published/Revised: July 30, 2002

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms published a final rule in the April 15, 2002, Federal Register concerning the delegation of the Director’s authorities in its exportation of liquors regulations. This document corrects the amendatory instructions in one paragraph of that final rule.

Published/Revised: July 25, 2002

The purpose of this letter is to ask that you continue to be vigilant in light of heightened security concerns regarding possible terrorist activity involving explosives.

Published/Revised: May 21, 2002

This final rule places most ATF authorities contained in its Exportation of Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes, Without Payment of Tax, or With Drawback of Tax regulations with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’. Consequently, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, specific officers subordinate to the Director and the word ‘‘region.’’ This final rule also requires that persons file documents required by these regulations with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ or in accordance with the instructions on the ATF form. Concurrently with this Treasury Decision, ATF Order 1130.31 is being issued and will be made available as specified in this rule. Through this order, the Director has delegated most of the authorities to the appropriate ATF officers and specified the ATF officers with whom applications, notices and other reports, which are not ATF forms, are filed. In addition, this final rule makes a few corrections and miscellaneous changes.

Published/Revised: May 8, 2002

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations pertaining to the importation of distilled spirits, wines, and beer.

Published/Revised: May 8, 2002

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms published a final rule in the April 15, 2002, Federal Register concerning the delegation of the Directorate's authorities in its exportation of liquors regulations.

Published/Revised: April 15, 2002

This final rule places ATF authorities concerning the exportation of liquors with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ and requires that persons file documents required with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ or in accordance with the instructions for the ATF form. Also, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, specific officers subordinate to the Director and the word ‘‘region’’ in reference to ATF. Concurrently with this Treasury Decision, ATF Order 1130.27 is being issued and will be available to the public as specified in this rule. Through this order, the Director has delegated all of the authorities concerning the exportation of liquors to the appropriate ATF officers and specified the ATF officers with whom applications, notices, and other reports, which are not ATF forms, are filed.

Published/Revised: April 15, 2002

This final rule amends the regulations in part 20 of title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations by eliminating the requirement for users and dealers of specially denatured spirits (SDS) to file a bond.  

Published/Revised: April 12, 2002

This final rule places ATF authorities with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ and requires that persons file documents required with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ or in accordance with the instructions on the ATF form. Also, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, specific officers subordinate to the Director and the word ‘‘region.’’ Concurrently with this Treasury Decision, ATF Order 1130.12 is being issued and will be available to the public as specified in this rule. Through this order, the Director has delegated all of the authorities to the appropriate ATF officers and specified the ATF officers with whom applications, notices and other reports, which are not ATF forms, are to be filed. In addition, this final rule removes the regulations relating to a repealed tax on imported perfumes.

Published/Revised: March 13, 2002

This final rule places with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ all ATF authorities contained in the Removal of Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes, Without Payment of Tax, for Use of the United States regulations and in the Miscellaneous Regulations Relating to Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes. Consequently, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, officers and offices subordinate to the Director. This final rule also requires that persons file documents required by these regulations with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ or in accordance with the instructions on the ATF form. Concurrently with this Treasury Decision, ATF Order 1130.28 is being issued and will be made available as specified in this rule. Through this order, the Director has delegated all of the authorities to the appropriate ATF officers and specified the ATF officers with whom applications, notices, and other reports, which are not ATF forms, are filed.

Published/Revised: February 27, 2002

We are amending the regulations to implement the provision of Public Law 105–277, Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, relating to firearms disabilities for nonimmigrant aliens. These regulations implement the law by prohibiting, with certain exceptions, the transfer to and possession of firearms and ammunition by aliens in the United States in a nonimmigrant classification. 

Published/Revised: February 5, 2002

Licensees may accept a combination of valid government-issued documents to satisfy the identification document requirements of the Brady Act under certain conditions. An active-duty member of the Armed Forces is a resident of the State in which his or her permanent duty station is located and may satisfy the identification document requirement by presenting his or her military identification card along with official orders showing the permanent duty station as within the State where the licensed premises are located.

Published/Revised: December 31, 2002

The purpose of this letter is to advise all persons holding federal explosives licenses or permits of heightened security precautions that should be taken in light of the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

Published/Revised: November 17, 2001

In response to the recent number of inquiries from licensed importers concerning the importation of surplus military curio or relic firearms and the submission of supporting documentation, ATF has published ATF Ruling 2001-3.

Published/Revised: November 15, 2001

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations in part 295 - Removal of Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes, Without Payment of Tax for Use of the United States, title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Published/Revised: November 13, 2001

This document implements regulations relating to certain provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, Public Law 106–554. These provisions revised the definition of ‘‘manufacturer of cigarette papers and tubes’’ and removed the definition of ‘‘cigarette papers’’ in section 5702 of Title 26 of the United States Code. The provisions of these sections are retroactive to the effective date of section 9302 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which was Jan. 1, 2000.

Published/Revised: September 28, 2001

This final rule amends the regulations governing tobacco products in order to implement several provisions of the Imported Cigarette Compliance Act of 2000 included as part of the Tariff Suspension and Trade Act of 2000. Sections 4002 and 4003 of this new law require that tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes manufactured in the United States and labeled or shipped for exportation (under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC)) can only be re-imported by the original manufacturer or by an export warehouse proprietor authorized to do so by the original manufacturer  (except for a personal use exemption discussed below), provide that those articles labeled for exportation may not be sold or held for sale for domestic consumption in the United States unless they are removed from their export packaging and repackaged by the original manufacturer into new packaging that does not contain an export label, and require the destruction of tobacco products forfeited under section 5761(c) of the IRC. 

Published/Revised: August 29, 2001

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations pertaining to the exportation of tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes, without payment of tax, or with drawback of tax. The purpose of this recodification is to reissue the regulations in part 290 of title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (27 CFR part 290) as 27 CFR part 44. This change improves the organization of title 27.

Published/Revised: August 20, 2001

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations pertaining to stills. The purpose of this recodification is to reissue the regulations in part 170 of title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (27 CFR part 170) as 27 CFR part 29. This change improves the organization of title 27 CFR.

Published/Revised: August 15, 2001