Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2019/68 of 16 January 2019 establishing technical specifications for the marking of firearms and their essential components under Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (Text with EEA relevance.)

Article 1

Scope

This Directive applies to firearms and their essential components, but it does not apply to elementary packages of complete ammunition.

Article 2

Technical specifications for the marking of firearms and their essential components

Member States shall ensure that the marking required by Article 4 of Directive 91/477/EEC meets the technical specifications set out in the Annex to this Directive.

Article 3

Transposition provisions

When Member States adopt those measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by Member States.

Article 4

Entry into force

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 5

Addressees

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

ANNEX

Technical specifications for the marking of firearms and their essential components

• 1.The font size used in the marking is as laid down by the Member State. The size or minimum size laid down by each Member State shall be at least 1,6 mm. Where required, a smaller font size may be used for the marking of essential components that are too small to be marked in compliance with Article 4 of Directive 91/477/EEC.

• 1a.The minimum depth of the marking laid down by each Member State shall be at least 0,0762 millimetre.

• 2.For frames or receivers made from a non-metallic material of a kind specified by the Member State, the marking is applied to a metal plate that is permanently embedded in the material of the frame or receiver in such a way that:

• (a) the plate cannot be easily or readily removed; and

• (b) removing the plate would destroy a portion of the frame or receiver.

• Member States may also permit the use of other techniques for marking such frames or receivers, provided that those techniques ensure an equivalent level of clarity and permanence for the marking.

• In determining which non-metallic materials to specify for the purposes of this specification, Member States shall have regard to the extent to which the material may compromise the clarity and permanence of the marking.

• 3.The alphabet used in the marking is as laid down by the Member State. The alphabet or alphabets laid down by each Member State shall be Latin, Cyrillic or Greek.

• 4.The numeral system used in the marking shall be as laid down by the Member State. The numeral system or systems laid down by each Member State shall be Arabic or Roman.