European Union Commission Restricts Carriage Of Ammunition

European Union Commission Restricts Carriage Of Ammunition

The European Union Commission recently released a new air-travel security regulation which, in part, prohibits the carriage of ammunition in checked baggage. This new regulation could make it very difficult for hunters to leave Europe with ammunition and might even cause problems for travelers transiting through Europe with ammunition, on their way to non-European destinations. Individual EU countries have the ability to opt out of the regulation, and SCI is working to encourage as many countries as possible to do so in their national air safety rules. SCI is also working to clarify whether the regulation will affect hunters who must fly through Europe, such as those who simply change planes in a European airport. Keep watching Crosshairs for further developments on this issue, including details on any country that confirms that it plans to exempt itself from this regulation. This regulation goes into effect on April 29, so anyone travelling with ammunition through Europe after that date needs to contact the airline to make sure that there will not be any issues.

The full regulation can be accessed from View attachment eu-commission-re&#1.pdf

As I am flying through Amesterdam enroute to South Africa this summer, this is disconcerting news. Please keep us informed.

Hi Bighorn: From KLM website:

Firearms and ammunition for shooting and hunting sports

Carrying ammunition and firearms in hand baggage is not permitted. You may carry such items for shooting and hunting purposes as check-in baggage under certain strict conditions.

Regulations for ammunition and firearms according to the weight concept
If you wish to take more baggage than the maximum allowance, the regular excess baggage fees apply.

Regulations for ammunition and firearms according to the piece concept
Each weapon counts as a single item of baggage. If you wish to take more baggage than the maximum allowance, the regular excess baggage fees apply.

You must also have the following permits in your possession:

•The licenses for the weapons in question.
•Import and export permits for the countries concerned.
•The permission of the Dutch Customs service to travel to, from or via the Netherlands.

Furthermore, the following rules apply:

•You must make a reservation for travel with firearms and/or ammunition. This can be done through your travel agent or Telephone Reservations.
•The firearms must be unloaded and safely packed in a suitcase or other case. The cartridges must be packed safely, preferably in a suitcase.
•Sports and hunting rifles must be transported separately from the ammunition.
•Ammunition may only be intended for shooting sport and a maximum of 5 kg (11 lbs) of ammunition may be carried per passenger.
•Firearms and ammunition are not permitted on flights on Fokker 50 aircraft or smaller aircraft.
•Baggage containing ammunition may not carry labels with the text ‘explosives’.
•Transporting ammunition with explosive or flammable projectiles is not permitted.
•When you check in you should declare that your weapon is unloaded and the ammunition has been packed separately.
Read more about Dutch Customs permits
Contact KLM Telephone Reservations

Source: KLM Special Baggage

Jerome,

Do you have any updates to this announcement?

I read Lufthansa and SAS have exemptions in place as of this time but none of the others, but I do not know if it is correct.

I was also told, as Michael posted above about KLM, that you can receive pre-approval to fly through European countries with most airlines.

Thanks for posting as this could be a mess and one more reason to use a good travel agent.

Mike,

I'll be sure to post any updates.

I did some searching on this new EU air-travel security regulation here in the U.S. as well as France but did not find anything further.

I looked at a few airlines' rules and regulations page regarding transportation of firearms and ammunition and did not find any mention of the new regulation prohibiting the carriage of ammunition in checked baggage.

What I found is the following wording for Air France regarding the transport of firearm and ammunition, I highlighted some of it in red to show some new wording:

---------------------------------------------------------------
Hunting rifles for sport use
Air rifles and hunting rifles are regulated weapons.
Their transport requires specific authorization and an accord. Indicate these items when reserving your trip (by telephone or at an agency) to obtain the necessary transport accord.

Hunting rifles must be unloaded and packed separately from ammunition. You must indicate these items at check-in.

This material is included in the baggage allowance.

To transport a rifle, you must hold: - a firearms license, to be shown at check-in, - the documents necessary for the transport of weapons and ammunition (export/import licenses, authorizations delivered by local and national authorities).
---------------------------------------------------------------

At this time, I would recommend that anyone traveling through Europe and no matter the airline(s) that you are traveling on, you or your hunting travel agent should contact each airline at time of booking to let them know that you will be traveling with hunting rifle(s) and ammunition for sport use and get the necessary authorization if necessary.

Proof of firearm which is used also as a proof of export and sometime can replace the gun license as some countries, including the United States, do not issue gun licenses. Some countries do not require it; though we recommend while traveling to always carry it with you along with a copy, in case of flight delays, change of route... It is mandatory to have for some countries that usually want the proof in the form of a custom declaration letter from the country of origin for each firearm. You can register your firearms with the Department of Homeland Security U. S. Customs and Border Protection, you can download the form of the Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad (CBP form# 4457) along with its’ instructions directly at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/forms/. Bring along the original as well as a copy that can be handed out to custom officials.

Should the link to the Department of Homeland Security U. S. Customs and Border Protection no longer exist please visit the home page of CBP at www.cbp.gov/ and just simply browse through their web site to find the link to “forms” and look for “CBP form# 4457”.

I would suggest filling out two separate forms, one for your firearm(s) and possibly one for your personal item(s) like binoculars, camera(s) and other valuables as it will prove that you brought those along on your trip and that you did not purchase of these items overseas.

This EU regulation does not go into effect until tomorrow. I am interested in what the various airlines have to say AFTER it is in place and I am waiting to hear from SCI which countries/airlines opt out of the legislation. Any which way you slice it, things just continue to make it more difficult to travel with firearms and ammunition. They will just keep stacking it on with excess baggage fees, firearm transport fees, stacks of required paperwork and new regulations until they make is such a pain in the rear that most quit traveling with firearms and ammunition.

I am waiting to see which airline will be the first to simply refuse to allow firearms and ammunition in checked baggage. It is going to come, it is just a matter of time.

All operators that I know have a rifle or two for rent. I think about now a prudent operator would concentrate on acquiring enough quality rifles, etc. to accommodate future needs..............instead of waiting for the hammer to fall and the resulting scramble to accommodate clients afterwards. The writing is on the wall and has been for some time.

Hi Kelly.

Ryan Air was first to refuse all kind of rifles and ammo etc.
However, after talking to Swedish transport authorities there will be no changes for us hunters as long as we "in good time" declare to airlines that we will carry rifles and ammo. ) I booked my flight from Gothenburg Sweden to Johannesburg South Africa, departure 9/5, and no problem with either ammo or rifle. Just make sure to declare when you book ticket that you will travel with rifle and ammo, and you will have no problems.

One thing I would like to add to Jerome's excellent post. DO NOT fill out the US form #4457 yourself. Thats the form that shows your ownership of items taken abroad. That is to be done by a customs officer. My customs officer had a discussion with me about that not too long ago. I took 3 copies with me on my last trip so I had one in each bag as well as on my person. I was able to E-mail the descriptions and serial numbers to the officer and he then filled out the forms and mailed them to me. This is done at no charge. They have to stamp and sign them for the forms to be valid. Bruce

gillettehunter said:

One thing I would like to add to Jerome's excellent post. DO NOT fill out the US form #4457 yourself. Thats the form that shows your ownership of items taken abroad. That is to be done by a customs officer. My customs officer had a discussion with me about that not too long ago. I took 3 copies with me on my last trip so I had one in each bag as well as on my person. I was able to E-mail the descriptions and serial numbers to the officer and he then filled out the forms and mailed them to me. This is done at no charge. They have to stamp and sign them for the forms to be valid. Bruce

Click to expand...

Interesting. My local office, which serves as a major port of entry, told me I could fill out everything in advance of arrival to help speed things up. Of course, this just included the item IDs and SN#s. I did it that way, and it went very smoothly - got the customs stamp and signatures.

I guess that I was not clear... The form has to be stamped and signed by a border patrol agent. Some offices may feel that it is easier for you to fill in the items that you want to list. I just didn't want someone to try taking their rifles in and out of the country without the stamp and signature. My agent told me about 2 hunters that thought that was how it was suppose to be done. They claimed that their African PH told them to do it that way. Luckily he caught it before they left. Sorry I wasn't a little clearer. Hope that this helps. Bruce

Latest News of New regulations for Ammo on Flights in EU countries.

Hi fellow hunters. This is from Swedish Hunting Association.
Translated with Google...

Green light for ammunition on domestic flights
March 30, 2010
You can continue to carry ammunition on the plane. In all cases of domestic flights and direct flights between Sweden and a country outside the EU.
But if you fly with ammunition in the EU, you have to find out whether it complies with EU legislation in the country.
On 4 March, the EU-Commission decision to ban all ammunition on aircraft. It shall enter into force on 29 April. The consequence is hard on the international shooting and hunting.
But now loosening up the federation part of the Transportation Board's new rules, which also takes effect April 29.


New regulations
To type the Transportation Board in its regulations on the transport of weapons and ammunition for domestic flights and direct flights to a country outside the EU
"64 § An air carrier accepts a shipment of a firearm must 

1st transport it and all its parts and ammunition in the aircraft 
 cargo space so that it is inaccessible during flight, and 

2nd by inquiry or otherwise ascertain that the weapon is unloaded 
. "


Enough exception
According Transporportstyrelsen Regulations should therefore be a sufficient exception to handle the issue so that those who want to fly in Sweden, and direct flights between Sweden and a country outside the EU can bring your own ammunition.

If you intend to fly to or from a country in Europe, it is however up to the passenger himself to find out if it is compatible with EU law of the country.

Thanks for that Michael.

I received and update from SCI a couple days ago that Germany has opted out of the new regulations. Here it is:

Last week we reported on a new European Union Commission regulation that could make it very difficult for hunters to travel with ammunition in checked luggage in Europe. That regulation goes into effect today, April 29. SCI has just received new information from our European partners that it is likely that most EU member states will be able obtain an exemption from this regulation. An exemption would allow passengers to continue to carry ammunition in checked baggage. So far, SCI has been notified that Germany will continue to allow ammunition in checked baggage and has not changed its policies in response to the EU Commission regulation. Once SCI can confirm exactly which other countries have received an exemption, we will inform you. Whatever happens, SCI still suggests speaking with your airline or travel agent if you are travelling with ammunition through Europe.

Ammunition is allowed on the plane in ten countries

It is now clear Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK allows ammunition on board the aircraft.


According to the Nordic Association of Hunters, Nordisk Jægersamvirke, it is now clear that at least ten European countries' airlines to re-ammunition on board the aircraft.


The EU has revised the rules on aviation safety. One of the intentions was to clean out the rules which prohibit, for example, skateboards and golf clubs. In connection with the new regulation feared by European hunters organizations that ammunition would be banned - even as checked baggage hold.

Hunting & Hunters (Jakt & Jägare) wrote about this a month ago: Jakt & Jägare
Both SAS and Transportation Board ruling that it does not impose any stricter requirements on the ammunition on board the aircraft. It is a question that is up to the airlines themselves.

Check with the airlines
The European hunters' associations of the Face and Jægersamvirke Nordic countries, however, called on the Organisation hunters to check it up with the airlines. According to a press release from the Nordic Jægersamvirke it is now clear that Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Great Britain to re-ammunition on board the aircraft.
In a response letter from Eckard Seebohm, European Commission, he confirmed to the Face that it is up to the airlines and the countries themselves to develop - possibly retaining the old ones - the rules for air transport of ammunition.

Good news Mike............which makes one wonder why all of this was really necessary other than for bureaucrats and policy analysts to justify their existence in government and some companies. I sincerely doubt this big flap was necessary and amounts to some legislators attempting to ban ammunition on the flights but ran into so much flack from many of the airlines, countries affected and tourism agencies that they had to find a way to explain it and pacify everyone, while trying to save face.

Kelly. Sometimes when the big boys and girls in Brussels make a new regulation for make it easier for us all people paying for these guys, the result can be really shocking ! How in hell were they thinking ! Also we, EU, has a huge organization called : FACE "Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the European Union", they represent more than 7.000.000 hunters within EU, they didn't even react, and did something about this new ammo regulation for aviation. Anyway, now we all are cleared about the most important issue, we can still travel around with our rifles and ammo, as we did before the 29th of April 2010 !

By the way, Im off to Mozambique for a lion hunt next week, and I had a call from my travel agent, saying, : You are cleared with both ammo and rifle, Lufthansa, never heard about "new regulations"

Stay safe !
Michael

Michael......... bureaucrats are the same everywhere it would seem.

Good luck on the hunt. Looking forward to seeing pictures of your cat.

Cheers, Kelly

Micheal, Kelly, Thanks for all of the valuable info. Michael, all the best in Mozambique, also looking forward to seeing the pictures...