Requirements for importing or exporting ammunition and firearms
Australian Shooter
September 1999
Interpreting the different requirements for importing or exporting firearms, firearm parts, magazines, ammunition, components of ammunition and replicas (non-firing) can lead to confusion. The following is a collection of requirements shooters frequently encounter.
The information provided below, while not all-inclusive, was provided by the Customs Branch in South Australia. Requirements can vary between states and are subject to change at any time.
Importing rifles into Australia
In general, any rifle being imported into Australia, by sea or air, unaccompanied
by the owner, must be supplemented by a Nature 10 Entry for Home Consumption
Form (Customs Entry Form) if the value exceeds $250 or the postal consignment
exceeds $1000. Duties and sales tax are calculated on entry by the importer.
An additional $50 is charged to offset entry processing costs.
A Form B709A, which is evidence of state police approval, is necessary to import a rifle. This form is to be lodged and retained with the Customs Entry Form.
Every rifle that is imported must be examined by a customs officer. During the examination, the officer will verify that the rifle is indeed the one described on the Customs Entry Form and the B709A.
Unless the rifle is excluded from safety testing, it will be held by a customs officer for transfer to the Australian Federal Police, where qualified officers will test it to verify that it meets the legislative Safety Requirements.
NOTE: Safety testing is not required for firearms that were manufactured before 1 January 1900 or for those that are designed or adapted for competition target shooting.
Once the rifle has past the test, it is available for collection from the Customs Office. If the rifle does not pass the safety test, the owner is responsible for any modifications or repairs. Owners may designate preferred gunsmiths to perform the necessary work.
If the owner is accompanying the firearm being imported, the procedure is the same as if it were unaccompanied. However, it may be possible to reduce the duty and/or sales tax by using the passenger allowance against the firearm.
Soft Air weapons also require a Form B709A approval and safety testing.
Importing handgun into Australia
Handguns are subject to the same requirements as the rifle. To import fully
automatic handguns and those resembling sub-machine guns or machine pistols,
approval by the Commonwealth Attorney-General is required.
Importing reloading
dies/presses and related accessories for the remanufacture of ammunition
There are no special requirements for importing reloading dies, presses or
related accessories; however, should threshold values be exceeded, a Customs
Entry would be required and applicable duty and sales tax paid.
Importing telescope
sights
Telescope sights are not included in the devices considered to be firearm
accessories.
Importing spare parts
for rifles and handguns
Spare parts for rifles and handguns are subject to similar requirements that
apply to the firearm of which they are a part. A Customs Entry Form - if applicable,
a Form B709A - evidence of state police approval and identification by a customs
officer are required to import these items. Safety testing is generally not
required.
For a list of items that are not considered a firearm part, refer to the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations, which is the relevant legislation that affects importing of firearms, firearms parts, firearms magazines, firearms accessories, ammunition and components of ammunition.
Importing ammunition
Approval is required to import ammunition and ammunition components - projectiles,
cartridge casings or primers. A Form B709A is required for all ammunition.
Importing tracer, frangible, explosive, incendiary, armour piercing, penetrator,
saboted light armour piercing, flechette or handgun ammunition that is designed,
advertised or capable of defeating soft body armour or opaque or glazed bullet
resistant material requires the approval of the Commonwealth Attorney-General.
Importing replica firearms
(non-firing)
Replica firearms (non-firing) are subject to the requirements of the firearm
they replicate. A Form B709A is required before a replica can be imported.
Clearing Customs in
a city other than city of residence
For example, if the shooter importing a firearm lands in Sydney but lives
in Adelaide, his or her firearm would be safety tested in Sydney and must
then be collected, by the importer, from Sydney with the necessary importation
requirements such as a Form B709A.
Importing Category
C firearms
Category C firearms may be legally imported under certain restricted circumstances.
These circumstances include:
1. The importation by
certified sports shooters, where the Commonwealth Attorney-General certifies
in writing that:
a) the person is registered with the Australian Clay Target Association, and that the person is:
• an Australian citizen,
• a lawful non-citizen under the Migration Act 1958 who holds a permanent
visa under that Act;
b) the person is a holder of a licence or authorisation, in accordance with
the law of the state or territory where the club is located, to possess the
item;
c) the person intends to use the item solely to take part in clay target events;
d) the person requires the article to take part in clay target events because
of a physical need due to lack of strength or dexterity;
e) and the person, on November 15, 1996, was a registered shooter with the
Australian Clay Target Association and possessed a self-loading shotgun or
pump action-repeating shotgun for use in clay target events.
2. The importation by
a certified international sports shooter, where the Commonwealth Attorney-General
certifies in writing that:
a) the person intends to use the article in Australia solely to take part
in a clay target event and the event is:
• the Olympic Games or an associated event,
• the Paralympic Games or an associated event,
• the Commonwealth Games or an associated event,
• organised by the Australian Clay Target Association;
b) the person is not an Australian citizen;
c) the person is not a lawful non-citizen under the Migration Act 1958 who
holds a permanent visa under that Act;
d) the person is the holder of a license or authorisation, in accordance with
the law of the state or territory where the club is located, to possess the
item.
3. The importation by a certified primary producer if a relevant police officer certifies, in an approved form, that the person is a primary producer.
4. The importation by
a person who is a certified buyer, for a category C item, where the Commonwealth
Attorney-General certifies in writing that:
a) the person intends to buy the item from a licensed firearm dealer;
b) the item is for the purpose of the government of the Commonwealth or a
state or territory;
c) the government will retain ownership of the article after buying it;
d) the person's
principal or only occupation is the business of controlling vertebrate pest
animals on rural land;
e) the person holds
a licence or authorisation, in accordance with the law of the state or territory
where the person will carry out the occupation, to possess the item.
5. The importation by
a person who is a licensed firearms dealer, for Category C items, if the person:
a) carries on the business of a firearms dealer;
b) holds a licence
or authorisation, in accordance with the law of the state or territory where
the person carries on the business, to possess the item and sell it in the
course of the business.
Fees for testing legally
imported firearms
Currently, there are no fees for the imposed safety tests. This is subject
to change.
Duties/taxes on imported
firearms
Currently there is up to 5 per cent import duty with an effective sales tax
of 26.4 per cent on imported firearms. The customs value will be assessed
on the Free on Board (FOB) price of the item.
Customs Brokers
If desired, firearm importers may employ the services of a licensed customs
broker to attend the customs requirements. Customs brokers are listed in the
Yellow Pages of each state.
Commerce prohibitions
and restrictions regional offices
To obtain state or territory specific information regarding controls on the
importation of firearms, contact the appropriate office below.
Canberra: Assistant
Director Commerce Prohibition and Restrictions, Customs House, 5 Constitution
Avenue, Canberra, ACT 2600 Tel: 02 6275 6576 Fax: 02 6275 6997
New South Wales: Chief
Inspector Commerce Prohibition and Restrictions, Level 3 ACS Link Road Offices,
Mascot, NSW 2020 Tel: 02 9317 7020 Fax: 02 9317 7156
Victoria: Senior
Inspector Commerce Prohibition and Restrictions, 10th Floor, 414 La Trobe
Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Tel: 03 9244 8423 Fax: 03 9244 8440
Queensland: Inspector
Import Clearance Boeing House, 363 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000 Tel:
07 3835 3295 Fax: 07 3835 3493
Western Australia: Senior Inspector Commerce Prohibition and Restrictions Customs House,
2 Henry Street, Fremantle, WA 6160 Tel: 08 9430 1405 Fax: 08 9430 1751
South Australia: Inspector
Commerce Prohibition and Restrictions Customs House, 220 Commercial Road,
Port Adelaide, SA 5015 Tel: 08 8447 9364 Fax: 08 8447 9227
Northern Territory: Inspector Cargo Facilitation Customs House, 21 Lindsay Street, Darwin,
NT 0800 Tel: 08 8946 9851 Fax: 08 8946 9953
Tasmania: Inspector
Exports and Entry Processing, 25 Argyle Street, Hobart, TAS 7000 Tel: 03 6230
1232 Fax: 03 6230 1262
Additional information
regarding customs requirements can be found on http://www.customs.gov.au
Exporting ammunition and firearms
Information on the exportation of ammunition and firearms can be obtained
from the Department of Defence. Contact details:
Mailing Address: Director, Strategic Trade Policy and Operations, CP4-1-53, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT 2600
Telephone: General Inquiries/Application Status: 02 6266 2586, Technical Advice: 02 6266 3157, Fax: 02 6266 2997
E-mail Address: Ops.stpo@dao.defence.gov.au
Internet Website: http://www.defence.gov.au/
Home > Research archive > 1999 > Requirements for importing or exporting ammunition and firearms