Importing from outside the EU - The law and legislation

[jayharry]

i've seen the question a few times on different paintballing forums. -"Can i import from the US?"

Customs are extremely vague about what category a paintball marker falls into in terms of customs restrictions. They simply state that the following goods are banned completely.
firearms, explosives and ammunition
realistic imitation firearms

Unless your buying a real milsim marker like a RAP-4 you shouldnt have a problem with the realistic bit.
Its taken me a fair bit of trawling through the firearms act 1968 to find where paintball markers fall in the legislation. It is as follows:

Section 1 talks about restriction of firearms in the UK.
Point 3 states: This section applies to every firearm EXCEPT(b) an air weapon (that is to say, an air rifle, air gun or air pistol [which does not fall within section 5(1) and which is] not of a type declared by rules made by the Secretary of State under section 53 of this Act to be specially dangerous).

Section 5(1)
a)any firearm which is so designed or adapted that two or more missiles can be successively discharged without repeated pressure on the trigger;
(ab)any self-loading or pump-action [rifled gun] other than one which is chambered for .22 rim-fire cartridges;
(aba)any firearm which either has a barrel less than 30 centimetres in length or is less than 60 centimetres in length overall, other than an air weapon, . . . a muzzle-loading gun or a firearm designed as signalling apparatus;]
(ac)any self-loading or pump-action smooth-bore gun which is not [an air weapon or] chambered for .22 rim-fire cartridges and either has a barrel less than 24 inches in length or. . . is less than 40 inches in length overall;
(ad)any smooth-bore revolver gun other than one which is chambered for 9mm. rim-fire cartridges or [a muzzle-loading gun];
(ae)any rocket launcher, or any mortar, for projecting a stabilised missile, other than a launcher or mortar designed for line-throwing or pyrotechnic purposes or as signalling apparatus;]
[(af)any air rifle, air gun or air pistol which uses, or is designed or adapted for use with, a self-contained gas cartridge system;]
(b)any weapon of whatever description designed or adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas or other thing; and
[(c)any cartridge with a bullet designed to explode on or immediately before impact, any ammunition containing or designed or adapted to contain any such noxious thing as is mentioned in paragraph (b) above and, if capable of being used with a firearm of any description, any grenade, bomb (or other like missile), or rocket or shell designed to explode as aforesaid.]

So basically if it fits the above description according to the Firearms Act it is not classed as a lethal firearm and therefore should be allowed through customs. (May take a while though)

Buying from the UK would be much easier but if your looking for a one off marker and wandering about customs i hope this helps..

Jay

 

[Tom]

If importing a paintball marker you don't have to worry about the firearms element
The VCRA covers RIFs and these are subject to the opinion of the individual looking at it

You may receive a letter and declaration form to fill in.
(probably sent by the courier and not customs)
You fill it in and it us then your declaration as to why you should be allowed it. They then present it to customs. The package itself may never be opened

RIFs are not prevented from coming in if you have a valid exemption,eg registered airsoft skiemisher, reenactorr, film company

Not only rap4 milsim types have been confiscated, pistols such as the tiberius have been and at least one of the Tippmann US army markers - Tipmann 98 style

Tournament style won't be picked up as RIFs but you could get a form to complete based on what the outside of the package says

Please note that opinion on the status of markers varies. Since the VCRA came into force RAP4 have traded in the UK with the same markers. They have however been visited by senior police doing a review and their opinion was that even standard X7s could be considered RIFs. They would give a firm opinion but recommended RAP4UK do something to prevent any prosecution. They introduced a similar scheme to airsoft and will sell markers with blue parts if you opt out