On the movement of sports pneumatic weapons by individuals across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union

 In connection with inquiries received by the Vitebsk Customs from individuals regarding the movement of sporting air rifles across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union (hereinafter – the Union), we inform you that many mistakenly consider such goods to be harmless "toys." However, this is not the case. From a legal perspective, airguns are clearly divided into categories, and violation of the rules for their movement may entail administrative liability.

Below we will consider the main aspects of the movement of sporting air rifles and similar items by individuals as goods for personal use.

According to section 2.22 of Annex No. 2 to the Decision of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission dated 21.04.2015 No. 30 "On Non-Tariff Regulation Measures" (hereinafter – Decision No. 30), sporting air rifles, shotguns, pistols, and revolvers with a muzzle energy exceeding 3 joules are classified as service and civilian weapons (hereinafter – sporting air weapons), for which a permit-based procedure for movement across the customs border of the Union is established.

The import and/or export of sporting air weapons must be carried out in accordance with the provision specified in Annex No. 17 to Decision No. 30, with a conclusion (permit document), which in the Republic of Belarus is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or the internal affairs departments of regional executive committees, or the main internal affairs department of the Minsk City Executive Committee.

Thus, the import into the customs territory of the Union or export from its territory of sporting air rifles, shotguns, pistols, and revolvers with a muzzle energy of 3 joules or less is possible without a conclusion (permit document).

Taking into account the above, it is important for individuals to know that sporting air weapons, moved as goods for personal use, are subject to mandatory customs declaration using a passenger customs declaration and with the provision of a conclusion (permit document). At the same time, the import or export from the customs territory of the Union of sporting air rifles, shotguns, pistols and revolvers with a muzzle energy of 3 joules or less is possible without a conclusion (permit document) upon presentation to the customs authority of the product passport, its operating instructions, or other documents confirming its operating principle and the muzzle energy in joules.

We also draw attention to the fact that, in accordance with the decision of the EEC Board dated 28.05.2024 No. 62 "On the list of goods not subject to forwarding in international postal items," sporting air weapons (their parts), ammunition for them (their parts), as well as items structurally similar to such weapons, with the exception of household items, are prohibited from being forwarded in international postal items.    

Based on materials from Vitebsk Customs