BASC update on taking sporting ammunition on flights leaving the UK

27 April 2010

Latest update for the UK

Firearms experts at BASC and the Federation of European Hunting Associations (FACE) were concerned that updated EU aviation security legislation could lead member states to believe that they should prohibit the carriage of legitimate sporting ammunition in hold baggage.

On 25 March, BASC was given assurances by the Department for Transport (DfT) that the carriage of up to 5 kg of ammunition in an aircraft's hold by passengers travelling abroad from the UK would continue to be permitted under the Aviation Security Act 1982 and associated guidelines, provided it was legally accepted in the country of destination and approval had been given by the air carrier.  On 14 April, the Civil Aviation Authority, a DfT agency, issued a similar assurance to BASC.

There are no changes in law regarding the carriage of firearms in hold baggage.

Photograph copyright Ian Harrison

Latest update from Europe

On 26 April, FACE informed BASC of the following clarification received from the European Commission:

Member States that today already have rules allowing the carriage of certain types of ammunition may continue to do so following the application of this new Regulation on 29 April 2010. These Member States must ensure that the applicable safety rules, in particular those relating to the transport of dangerous goods, are complied with. Such rules allowing the carriage of certain types of ammunition may either be contained in national air safety rules, the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NASP) or other national rules or legislation on safety and/or security.

Due to the fact that all Member States are in process of adapting their NASP in order to align it with the new EU legislation on aviation security as required by Article 10 of Regulation 300/2008, those Member States that do not yet have any national rules allowing the carriage of certain types of ammunition could include such rules in their updated NASP if they wish to do so.

FACE have received confirmation at national level from Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK that the carriage of ammunition in hold baggage will continue to be allowed, or will most probably continue to be allowed, under national exemptions.

Find out more from BASC's Firearms Department

For more information email explosives@basc.org.uk

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