Marking of Imported Firearms under the UN Firearms Protocol

SEESAC has published a study report "Marking of Imported Firearms under the UN Firearms Protocol." The Protocol against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition prescribes that states should adopt and implement appropriate measures to ensure marking of firearms at time of manufacture, import and transfers from government stocks to civilian use. The unique marking of each firearm identifies it and forms the basis on which records are kept and firearms are traced. The UN Firearms Protocol sets the minimum standards which must be implemented in domestic law. States are encouraged to adopt more rigorous measures in domestic law wherever they would be considered useful for preventing and combating organized crime.

This study is an overview of national regulations for marking of imported firearms in countries that are implementing the Firearms Protocol. It establishes guidelines for adequate marking of firearms, in particular at time of import. It also includes an overview of different methods of marking which can be utilized by States with provisions covering post-manufacture marking in general and import marking in particular. Finally, it gives some indications on the costs of the marking process.

The report was published with the generous support of the Kingdom of Norway.

The report can be downloaded here.