Rules and Regulations Library

Published/Revised: June 5, 2004

A decision was agreed upon to amend Annex A of the Voluntary Restraint Agreement (VRA) by adding 74 types of firearms to the list. Please note, that even though these 74 firearms have been added to Annex A, ATF will still need to determine the importability of some of these firearms.

Published/Revised: May 20, 2004

Approved alternate method or procedure for importers to use when temporarily importing firearms subject to the NFA, the GCA and the Arms Export Control Act for inspection, testing, calibration, repair, or incorporation into another defense article.

Published/Revised: April 7, 2004

Published/Revised: March 15, 2004

This open letter provides guidance regarding the use of a State of Michigan issued Concealed Pistol Permit (CPP, but commonly referred to as a CCW) and a License to Purchase a Pistol as alternatives to NICS background check.

Published/Revised: March 15, 2004

This open letter discusses the importance of the partnerships that have been established between ATF and the firearms industry and to reinforce our joint responsibilities under the Gun Control Act (GCA).

Published/Revised: January 14, 2004

Published/Revised: November 6, 2003

Published/Revised: October 15, 2003

Published/Revised: September 15, 2003

Published/Revised: June 27, 2003

Published/Revised: May 23, 2003

Published/Revised: May 16, 2003

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 transferred certain law enforcement and regulatory functions of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms from the Department of the Treasury to the Department of Justice and changed its name to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This rule delegates specific authorities to that Bureau and incorporates it into the structure of the Department of Justice.

Published/Revised: January 31, 2003

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the Browning M1919 type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised: January 24, 2003

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the FN FAL type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised: January 24, 2003

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the Sten type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised: January 24, 2003

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the Heckler & Koch G3 type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised: January 24, 2003

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 divides the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Department of the Treasury, into two separate agencies, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in the Department of Justice, and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in the Department of the Treasury. 27 CFR Parts 447, 478 et al. Reorganization of Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations; Final Rule

Published/Revised: January 24, 2003

The purpose of this letter is to provide you with information on a provision of the recently enacted Homeland Security Act of 2002. This provision moves most of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) from the Department of the Treasury to the Department of Justice effective Jan. 24, 2003.

Published/Revised: December 18, 2002

Published/Revised: November 29, 2002

The purpose of this letter is to provide you information on the provisions of the Safe Explosives Act (the Act), which was enacted on Nov. 25, 2002.

Published/Revised: November 29, 2002

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