We would like to present you the comments of V.M. Reznik, the Chairman of the State Duma interfractional working group on improvement of the legislation in the sphere of hunting and conservation of hunting resources on the procedure of import into the Russian Federation of components of cartridges used for personal use in handloaded cartridges for firearms of long-barrelled weapons:
“As the Chairman of the inter-factional working group of the State Duma on improving legislation in the field of hunting and conservation of hunting resources, I regularly receive requests from hunters and sportsmen concerning clarification of the order of movement across the border of the Russian Federation in accompanied or unaccompanied baggage, by forwarding in international mail or otherwise, components of cartridges for civilian weapons intended for personal use handloaded cartridges for sports and hunting long-barreled firearms, in accordance with the federal law "On Weapons".
In practice, there are cases when customs authorities detain batches of components of cartridges for civilian weapons (cartridges, bullets, primers, and gunpowder) due to the relative large number of items, lack of information required for the release of goods, or on the grounds that the goods do not meet the criteria for classifying goods as goods for personal use.
The All-Russian Public Organization "Federation of High-precision Shooting of Russia" presented its position on this issue, which confirmed its relevance and noted the specifics of training and participation of sportsmen-hunters in training and competitions, associated with the use of a large number of handloaded cartridges of different calibers. The Federal Customs Service of Russia, Ministry of Sports of Russia, Ministry of Transport of Russia, Rosgvardia also presented their positions. The results of the consultations were summarized at a meeting with the Secretary of State - Deputy Minister of Finance A.V. Sazanov and are as follows.
Separate consignments of cartridges for civilian weapons (cartridges, bullets, primers and powder) related (classified) by customs authorities to the goods for personal use on general terms stipulated by paragraph 4 of Article 256 of the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union, on the basis of the following:
1) the statement of a person about the goods transported across the customs border ( in oral or written form);
2) the type and quantity of goods;
3) the frequency of movement of goods across the customs border by (or to) a person.
In relation to cases, bullets, primers and gunpowder recognized as goods for personal use, the general cost, weight and quantity norms for the importation of goods for personal use, established by the Decision of the EEC Council dated December 20, 2017 No. 107 “On Certain Issues Related to Goods for Personal Use” apply. ".
In particular, the decision contains the following standards for the importation of cartridges and bullets for personal use, depending on the method of importation:
- imported in accompanied and (or) unaccompanied baggage by air transport - the value does not exceed the equivalent of 10'000 euros and the weight does not exceed 50 kg (applicable for cartridges and bullets);
- accompanied and/or unaccompanied baggage, other than by air or on foot - from 1 April 2023 the cost does not exceed the equivalent of EUR 500 and does not exceed 25 kg (applicable for cartridges and bullets as well as for primers and powder, subject to the qualifications below);
- delivered by the carrier - from 1 April 2023, not exceeding the equivalent of EUR 200 and not exceeding 31 kg (applicable for cartridges and pellets, for primers and powder: check the legal capacity of the carrier, subject to the reservations below);
- international mail - from April 1, 2023 - value not exceeding the equivalent of 200 euros and weight not exceeding 31 kg (applicability for cartridge cases and bullets should be further clarified with the operators).
In addition, it should be taken into account that the importation of primers or encapsulated cartridges may be carried out only on the basis of a document issued by the Rosgvardia.
Besides, the individual's importation of gunpowder for handloaded cartridges does NOT REQUIRE a SPECIAL permit and is allowed by the owner of a hunting weapon, provided the gunpowder is purchased in retail outlets (if there is a confirming document of purchase) and a permit for keeping and carrying hunting weapons, or by the owner of a sport weapon, if the owner has such a permit.
Thus, compliance with the above rules allows hunters and sportsmen to import into the territory of the Russian Federation components of cartridges for civilian weapons intended for personal use - handloaded cartridges. Also a general recommendation, quite applicable and in certain disputable situations, is the expediency of providing to the customs authority the most detailed information to confirm the attribution of the cartridges, bullets, primers and powder to the goods for personal use: permission to keep and carry long guns, hunting ticket, documents confirming membership in sports organizations and other documents".
Official letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation "On quantitative norms of classification of cartridges, primers, bullets and powder as goods for personal use"
In case of questions and for additional clarifications you can contact V.M. Reznik, member of the Mountain Hunters Club
