Air Guns and Air Pistols Import Free for Registered Shooters

[DGFT Notification No. 95 dated 9^th February 2012]

Subject: Import policy of arms and ammunition for Specified Sportspersons / Sport Bodies, amendment thereof.

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 read with Para 2.1 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2009-2014, the Central Government hereby makes the following amendments in the Schedule 1 (Imports) of the ITC (HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items:

2. Existing Import Licensing Note (1) in Chapter 93 of ITC (HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items prior to this amendment is extracted below:

“Import of arms is permitted against a license to renowned shooters/rifle clubs for their own use on the recommendation of Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. However, Import of 0.177 bore air guns and air pistols will be free for shooters registered with Rifle Clubs or District/State/National Rifle Association. Free import of 0.177 bore air guns and air pistols will also be allowed to National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for supplying the same to the eligible State Rifle Association / Clubs and to the eligible shooters. NRAI shall be required to keep appropriate account of the imported weapons.”

3. After amendment the Import Licensing Note (1) would read as below:

“Import of arms (including parts thereof) & ammunition is permitted freely to the following sports persons/sports bodies:

Renowned shooters (as defined in Import Licensing Note 3) on the recommendation of National Rifle Association of India (NRAI); National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for its own use and for transfer to its State/district affiliates by due certification by Sports Authority of India; Sports Authority of India (SAI) or State Sport Authorities of concerned State by self certification and Services Sports Control Board (SSCB), Ministry of Defence. Respective recommending or certifying Bodies will maintain the required records. “

4. After the existing Import Licensing Note (3) in Chapter 93 of ITC HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items, Note (4) is added as under:

“Note (4) - Policy for import of ‘Air Gun Pellets’ is free.”

5. The effect of this Notification

The procedure for issue of import license/authorization for import of arms & ammunition by specified sports persons/sports bodies has been dispensed with. NRAI, SAI and SSCB can freely import arms and ammunition for their own use or their affiliates. Renowned Shooter can freely import arms and ammunition for their own use. Import Policy Regime for ‘Air Gun Pellets’ continues to be ‘free’.  This notification does not exempt the specified sports persons/sports bodies from the Arms Act, 1959 or Rules thereunder; but merely makes amendments in the Import Policy regime for the specified categories of importers.