Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
European Parliament. 2021 ‘Annex I.’ 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 4 (Arts. 22-26). Brussels: European Union. 24 March
Relevant contents
I. For the purposes of this Directive, 'weapon' means:
— any firearm as defined in Article 1,
— weapons other than firearms as defined in national legislation.
II. For the purposes of this Directive, firearms are classified in the following categories:
Category A – Prohibited firearms
1. Explosive military missiles and launchers.
2. Automatic firearms.
3. Firearms disguised as other objects.
4. Ammunition with penetrating, explosive or incendiary projectiles, and the projectiles for such ammunition.
5. Pistol and revolver ammunition with expanding projectiles and the projectiles for such ammunition, except in the
case of weapons for hunting or for target shooting, for persons entitled to use them.
6. Automatic firearms which have been converted into semi-automatic firearms, without prejudice to Article 10(5).
7. Any of the following centre-fire semi-automatic firearms:
(a) short firearms which allow the firing of more than 21 rounds without reloading, if:
(i) a loading device with a capacity exceeding 20 rounds is part of that firearm; or
(ii) a detachable loading device with a capacity exceeding 20 rounds is inserted into it;
(b) long firearms which allow the firing of more than 11 rounds without reloading, if:
(i) a loading device with a capacity exceeding 10 rounds is part of that firearm; or
(ii) a detachable loading device with a capacity exceeding 10 rounds is inserted into it.
8. Semi-automatic long firearms, that is to say firearms that are originally intended to be fired from the shoulder, that
can be reduced to a length of less than 60 cm without losing functionality by means of a folding or telescoping
stock or by a stock that can be removed without using tools.
9. Any firearm in this category that has been converted to firing blanks, irritants, other active substances or
pyrotechnic rounds, or into a salute or acoustic weapon.
Category B – Firearms subject to authorisation
1. Repeating short firearms.
2. Single-shot short firearms with centre-fire percussion.
3. Single-shot short firearms with rimfire percussion the overall length of which is less than 28 cm.
4. Semi-automatic long firearms the loading device and chamber of which can together hold more than three rounds
in the case of rimfire firearms, and more than three but fewer than twelve rounds in the case of centre-fire firearms.
5. Semi-automatic short firearms other than those listed under point 7(a) of category A.
6. Semi-automatic long firearms listed under point 7(b) of category A the loading device and chamber of which cannot
together hold more than three rounds, where the loading device is detachable or where it is not certain that the
weapon cannot be converted, with ordinary tools, into a weapon the loading device and chamber of which can
together hold more than three rounds.
7. Repeating and semi-automatic long firearms with smooth-bore barrels not exceeding 60 cm in length. 8. Any firearm in this category that has been converted to firing blanks, irritants, other active substances or
pyrotechnic rounds, or into a salute or acoustic weapon.
9. Semi-automatic firearms for civilian use which resemble weapons with automatic mechanisms other than those
listed under point 6, 7 or 8 of category A.
Category C – Firearms and weapons subject to declaration
1. Repeating long firearms other than those listed in point 7 of category B.
2. Long firearms with single-shot rifled barrels.
3. Semi-automatic long firearms other than those listed in category A or B.
4. Single-shot short firearms with rimfire percussion the overall length of which is not less than 28 cm.
5. Any firearm in this category that has been converted to firing blanks, irritants, other active substances or
pyrotechnic rounds, or into a salute or acoustic weapon.
6. Firearms classified in category A or B or this category that have been deactivated in accordance with Implementing
Regulation (EU) 2015/2403.
7. Single-shot long firearms with smooth-bore barrels placed on the market on or after 14 September 2018.
III. For the purposes of this Annex, objects which correspond to the definition of 'firearm' shall not be included in that
definition if they:
(a) are designed for alarm, signalling, life-saving, animal slaughter or harpoon fishing or for industrial or technical
purposes provided that they can be used for the stated purpose only;
(b) are regarded as antique weapons where such weapons have not been included in the categories set out in Part II and are subject to national laws.
Pending coordination throughout the Union, Member States may apply their national laws to the firearms listed in this
Part.
IV. For the purposes of this Annex:
(a) 'short firearm' means a firearm with a barrel not exceeding 30 centimetres or whose overall length does not exceed
60 centimetres;
(b) 'long firearm' means any firearm other than a short firearm;
(c) 'automatic firearm' means a firearm which reloads automatically each time a round is fired and can fire more than
one round with one pull on the trigger;
(d) 'semi-automatic firearm' means a firearm which reloads automatically each time a round is fired and can fire only
one round with one pull on the trigger;
(e) 'repeating firearm' means a firearm which, after a round has been fired, is designed to be reloaded from a magazine
or cylinder by means of a manually-operated action;
(f) 'single-shot firearm' means a firearm with no magazine which is loaded before each shot by the manual insertion of
a round into the chamber or a loading recess at the breech of the barrel;
(g) 'ammunition with penetrating projectiles' means ammunition for military use where the projectile is jacketed and
has a penetrating hard core;
(h) 'ammunition with explosive projectiles' means ammunition for military use where the projectile contains a charge
which explodes on impact;
(i) 'ammunition with incendiary projectiles' means ammunition for military use where the projectile contains a
chemical mixture which bursts into flame on contact with the air or on impact.