Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
European Parliament. 2021 ‘Article 4(1)-(3).’ Directive (EU) 2021/555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 March 2021 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (codification); Chapter 2. Brussels: European Union. 24 March
Relevant contents
Article 4
1. With regard to firearms manufactured or imported into the Union on or after 14 September 2018, Member States shall ensure that any such firearm, or any essential component, placed on the market has been:
(a) provided with a clear, permanent and unique marking without delay after manufacture and at the latest before its placement on the market, or without delay after importation into the Union; and
(b) registered in compliance with this Directive without delay after manufacture and at the latest before its placement on the market, or without delay after importation into the Union.
2. The unique marking referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 shall include the name of the manufacturer or brand, the country or place of manufacture, the serial number and the year of manufacture, if not already part of the serial number, and the model where feasible. This shall be without prejudice to the affixing of the manufacturer's trademark. Where an essential component is too small to be marked in compliance with this Article, it shall be marked at least with a serial number or an alphanumeric or digital code. The marking requirements for firearms or essential components that are of particular historical importance shall be determined in accordance with national law. Member States shall ensure that each elementary package of complete ammunition is marked in such a way as to indicate the name of the manufacturer, the batch or lot identification number, the calibre and the type of ammunition. For the purposes of paragraph 1 and this paragraph, Member States may choose to apply the provisions of the Convention for the Reciprocal Recognition of Proof Marks on Small Arms of 1 July 1969 (the '1969 Convention'). Furthermore, Member States shall ensure, at the time of transfer of a firearm or its essential components from government stocks to permanent civilian use, the unique marking, as provided for under paragraph 1, permitting identification of the transferring entity.
3. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts establishing technical specifications for the marking. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 20(2).