Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
Portugal. 2010 ‘Marking.’ National Report of Portugal on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA), p. 4. New York, NY: Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations. 1 January
Relevant contents
Marking
National practices on marking are fully consistent with the best practices established in international instruments, namely the UN Firearms Protocol, the Wassenaar Best Practice Guidelines for Exports of Small Arms and Light Weapons, the OSCE Best Practice Guide on Marking, Record Keeping and Traceability of Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Instrument to Enable States do Identify and Trace in a Timely and Reliable Manner Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons.
In relation to arms for military use, the Ministry of Defence requests that imported and exported arms are marked with the name of the manufacturer, the country of manufacture and the serial number. Marking of additional information such as the year of manufacture, the weapon type/model and the calibre is also encouraged.
Regarding small arms for civil use, article 53.º of Law 5/2006 obliges each manufacturer to mark each of them with its name, model, year of manufacture and serial number. The firearms produced in Portugal should have a distinct mark issued by an official entity, recognized by the Ministry of the Interior.
In the case of repair of firearms that can result in the elimination of the serial number, firearms should be previously examined and marked.
In arms found without appropriate marking, due corrections are made by national authorities.