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Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2024/325 22.1.2024
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE (EU) 2024/325
of 19 January 2024
amending Implementing Directive (EU) 2019/68 as regards the minimum depth of markings on
firearms and essential components
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Directive (EU) 2021/555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 March 2021on control of
the acquisition and possession of weapons(1), and in particular Article 4(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2019/68(2) sets out the minimum technical specifications for the
marking of firearms and their essential components in order to increase the traceability of firearms and their
essential components and to facilitate their free movement.
(2) As the title of Implementing Directive (EU) 2019/68 contains a reference to Council Directive 91/477/EEC(3), which
has been repealed, it is necessary to replace that reference.
(3) The technical specifications of Implementing Directive (EU) 2019/68 did not contain a requirement on the
minimum depth of markings. It is necessary to include a minimum depth at EU level to ensure a level playing field
for economic operators and firearms users and facilitate the trade in the internal market of the EU. Moreover, in
order to align with the standards of the most important markets for the export of civilian firearms (USA and
Canada), it is necessary to adopt a technical specification entailing a minimum depth of 0,0762 millimetre for the
marking.
(4) A depth of 0,0762 millimetre is technically feasible and does not compromise the durability of firearms and the
essential components.
(5) Implementing Directive (EU) 2019/68 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6) In line with Article 4(1) of Directive (EU) 2021/555, the measures provided for in Article 1, point 2, shall apply to
firearms and their essential components only when they are placed on the market for the first time after the
eighteenth month following the publication of this act to the Official Journal, as provided in Article 2(1). The
measures shall apply to the components whether part of a firearm or placed separately on the market.
(7) In accordance with the Joint Political Declaration of 28 September 2011of Member States and the Commission on
explanatory documents(4), Member States have undertaken to accompany, in justified cases, the notification of
their transposition measures with one or more documents explaining the relationship between the components of a
directive and the corresponding parts of national transposition instruments.
(8) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by
Article 20 of Directive (EU) 2021/555,
(1) OJ L 115, 6.4.2021, p. 1.
(2) Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2019/68 of 16 January 2019 establishing technical specifications for the marking of
firearms and their essential components under Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons
(OJ L 15, 17.1.2019, p. 18).
(3) Council Directive 91/477/EEC of 18 June 1991 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (OJ L 256, 13.9.1991, p. 51).
(4) OJ C 369, 17.12.2011, p. 14.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir_impl/2024/325/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 22.1.2024
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
Implementing Directive (EU) 2019/68 is amended as follows:
(1) in the title of Implementing Directive (EU) 2019/68 the reference to ‘Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the
acquisition and possession of weapons’ is replaced by a reference to ‘Directive (EU) 2021/555 of the European
Parliament and of the Council on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons’;
(2) in the Annex the following point 1a is inserted:
‘1a. The minimum depth of the marking laid down by each Member State shall be at least 0,0762 millimetre.’
Article 2
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this
Directive by 22 July 2025at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.
When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a
reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.
2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they
adopt in the field covered by this Directive.
Article 3
This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Union.
Article 4
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 19 January 2024.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir_impl/2024/325/oj