Customs Notice 24-13: Notification of Change to the Criminal Code Definition of Prohibited Firearms

Ottawa, November 14, 2024

1. This Notice is to advise interested parties that the Government of Canada has passed the Government Bill (House of Commons) C-21 (44-1) - Royal Assent - An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms), which amends the definition of prohibited firearm by adding a new technical definition which now includes the following characteristics:

A firearm that is:

• An unlawfully manufactured firearm regardless of the means or method of manufacture
• Not a handgun and that:
  • Discharges centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic manner,
  • Was originally designed with a detachable magazine with a capacity of six cartridges or more, and
  • Is designed and manufactured on or after the day on which this paragraph comes into force (December 15, 2023)

2. Please be advised that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will immediately begin prohibiting the importation of any firearm that meets the amended definition of prohibited firearm and does not have the required documentation.

3. Prohibited firearms are classified as prohibited under Tariff Item 9898.00.00 unless an exemption to that tariff item applies.

4. A business (including movie/television companies and museums) may only import or re-import prohibited firearms if they hold a valid firearms business license that specifies a prescribed purpose (such as supplying television / motion picture / video / theatrical production companies or the Canadian Armed Forces / law enforcement agencies) for the importation of these prohibited firearms on their Firearms Business Licence.

For further information regarding the change to the definition of prohibited firearms, please contact:

Program and Policy Management Division
Other Government Department Programs Unit
Canada Border Services Agency
100 Metcalfe, 8th Floor
Ottawa, ON K1P 0A7

E-mail: faw.aaf@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

The CBSA’s policy on the importation of prohibited devices, is available in the Customs D Memoranda D19-13-2 Importing and Exporting Firearms, Weapons and Devices. The D Memoranda D19-13-2 will be revised to reflect the change to the definition of prohibited firearms.