Rules and Regulations Library

This final rule makes technical amendments and corrects typographical errors in ATF regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Many of the technical changes are being made to reflect changes in nomenclature resulting from the transfer of ATF to the Department of Justice from the Department of the Treasury pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. The changes are designed to provide clarity and enhance uniformity throughout these regulations. 

Published/Revised: May 30, 2015

This order delegates the authority to exercise the authorities and responsibilities committed to the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) under the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, Public Law 110–180 (NIAA). This authority is to establish and enforce the criteria that applicable Federal departments and agencies and states use to create qualifying relief from firearms disabilities programs, to make decisions as to whether applicable Federal departments and agencies and states have properly implemented and certified relief from firearms disabilities programs under the NIAA, and to make any related determinations under the NIAA regarding such relief from firearms disabilities programs.

Published/Revised: May 30, 2015

The Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney (OPA), is exempting a Privacy Act system of records entitled ‘‘Executive Clemency Case Files/Executive Clemency Tracking System (JUSTICE/OPA–001)’’ from subsections (c)(3), (c)(4), (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3), (d)(4), and (e)(5) of the Privacy Act. Information in this system relates to the investigation and evaluation of applicants for executive clemency and case-related correspondence regarding such applicants and the clemency process.

Published/Revised: August 9, 2019

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regarding the making or transferring of a firearm under the National Firearms Act (NFA). This final rule defines the term ‘‘responsible person,’’ as used in reference to a trust, partnership, association, company, or corporation; requires responsible persons of such trusts or legal entities to complete a specified form and to submit photographs and fingerprints when the trust or legal entity files an application to make an NFA firearm or is listed as the transferee on an application to transfer an NFA firearm; requires that a copy of all applications to make or transfer a firearm, and the specified form for responsible persons, as applicable, be forwarded to the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) of the locality in which the applicant/ transferee or responsible person is located; and eliminates the requirement for a certification signed by the CLEO.

Published/Revised: January 15, 2016

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) concerning the statutory reporting requirement for firearms that have been stolen or lost. The final rule specifies that when a federal firearms licensee (FFL) discovers a firearm it shipped was stolen or lost in transit, the transferor/sender FFL must report the theft or loss to ATP and to the appropriate local authorities within 48 hours of discovery.

Published/Revised: December 31, 2020

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regarding the making or transferring of a firearm under the National Firearms Act (NFA). This final rule defines the term "responsible person," as used in reference to a trust, partnership, association, company, or corporation; requires responsible persons of such trusts or legal entities to complete a specified form and to submit photographs and fingerprints when the trust or legal entity files an application to make an NFA firearm or is listed as the transferee on an application to transfer an NFA firearm; requires that a copy of all applications to make or transfer a firearm, and the specified form for responsible persons, as applicable, be forwarded to the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) of the locality in which the applicant/transferee or responsible person is located; and eliminates the requirement for a certification signed by the CLEO. These provisions provide a public safety benefit as they ensure that responsible persons undergo background checks.

Published/Revised: May 15, 2020

This form is used to register and pay to permanently import defense articles on the United States Munitions Import List.

Published/Revised: April 11, 2022

Published/Revised: December 26, 2018

Authority delegation. This final rule places most ATF authorities contained in parts 4, 5, and 7, title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), with the “appropriate ATF officer” and requires that persons file documents required by parts 4, 5, and 7, title 27 CFR, 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. Concurrently with this Treasury Decision, ATF Order 1130.2A is being published. Through this order, the Director has delegated most of the authorities in 27 CFR parts 4, 5 and 7 to the appropriate ATF officers and specified the ATF officers with whom applications, notices and other reports that are not ATF forms are filed. Finally, this final rule removes the definition of, and a reference to, the Director in part 16, title 27 CFR.

Published/Revised: January 3, 2000

Report of Firearms Transactions - ATF Form 5300.5

Published/Revised: May 22, 2015

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is establishing a viticultural area located within the State of Oregon, to be known as ‘‘Applegate Valley.’’ The petition for this viticultural area was filed by Mr. Barnard E. Smith, President, The Academy of Wine of Oregon Inc. ATF believes that the establishment of viticultural areas and the subsequent use of viticultural area names as appellations of origin in wine labeling and advertising allows wineries to designate the specific areas where the grapes used to make the wine were grown and enables consumers to better identify the wines they purchase.

Published/Revised: December 14, 2000

This Treasury decision makes technical amendments and corrects typographical errors in various regulations of the ATF. All changes are to provide clarity and uniformity throughout the regulations.

Published/Revised: November 16, 2000

This final rule implements the provision of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 requiring that manufacturers of roll-your-own tobacco obtain a permit.

Published/Revised: September 25, 2000

The purpose of this open letter is to remind all federal firearms licensees (FFL) of their ready ability to enhance public safety and assist law enforcement by encouraging and facilitating transfers of firearms between private individuals through their businesses.

Published/Revised: March 25, 2013

This final rule places most ATF authorities contained in certain ATF regulations with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ and requires that persons file documents required by those regulations with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’. Also, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, specific officers subordinate to the Director. Concurrently with this Treasury Decision, ATF Order 1130.7 is being published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. Through this order, the Director has delegated most of the authorities in the affected regulations 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: August 28, 2000

In Treasury Decision ATF-424, ATF issued temporary regulations requiring manufacturers and importers to mark packages of roll-your-own tobacco as either ‘‘roll-your-own tobacco’’ or ‘‘Tax Class J.’’ The temporary regulations provided a use-up period until April 1, 2000, for manufacturers who used packages that did not meet the marking requirements, provided they used the packages before Jan. 1, 2000. In this temporary rule, ATF is extending the date by which manufacturers of roll-your-own tobacco must comply with the package marking requirements. ATF is also adding regulations to provide the same compliance date for importers of roll-your-own tobacco.

Published/Revised: June 29, 2000

On Sept. 10, 1998, HUD published its final rule for the Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP).

Published/Revised: July 20, 2000

This document contains a correcting amendment to the temporary regulations, which were published in the Federal Register on Dec. 22, 1999 (64 FR 71947) and on March 21, 2000 (65 FR 15058). The temporary regulations relate to implementing certain provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 that set forth requirements that, beginning Jan. 1, 2000, importers of tobacco products must qualify for a permit to conduct that activity.

Published/Revised: July 24, 2000

This final rule amends the regulations in 27 CFR part 22 by eliminating the requirement for users of tax-free alcohol to file a bond. It also liberalizes certain qualification requirements relating to tax-free alcohol user permits.

Published/Revised: March 2, 2001

This temporary rule implements the provision of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 relating to the new permit requirements on the manufacture of roll-your-own tobacco. This temporary rule also removes references to forms which have previously been made obsolete, and renumbers certain forms to reflect the current ATF numbering system.

Published/Revised: December 22, 1999

This final rule implements certain provisions of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-132). These regulations implement the law by requiring detection agents for plastic explosives. The final rule also authorizes the use of four specific detection agents to mark plastic explosives and provides for the designation of other detection agents.

Published/Revised: March 10, 1999

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

Authority delegation. This final rule places most ATF authorities contained in part 1, title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), with the “appropriate ATF officer” and requires that persons file documents required by part 1, title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 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.  Concurrently with this Treasury Decision, ATF Order 1130.6 is being published. Through this order, the Director has delegated most of the authorities in 27 CFR part 1 to the appropriate ATF officers and specified the ATF officers with whom applications, notices and other reports that are not ATF forms are filed.

Published/Revised: July 7, 1999

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

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