This is an agreement within the European Union countries regulating how firearms should be deactivated. This European law also regulates that it must be marked and fitted with an EU Deactivation Certificate or eudeco certificate.
Before the new regulations, it was only possible to deactivate bolt-action rifles and non-repetitive hail rifles in the Netherlands. This had to be done by a recognised gun repairer, who usually issued a certificate to do so. These weapons deactivated under the old regulation are still legal for persons aged 18 and older.
Each country has its own EU DECO certificate, showing the make, type, gun number, calibre and certificate number. Each country may use the text on the certificate in the country's language, but an English translation must also always be present
Yes, if properly packed and not readily available for use. A gun case is an excellent means of transport. Make sure you bring the eu deco certificate as well.
Yes. According to the law, a deactivated weapon is still a weapon because it is suitable for depredation. It is internally destroyed to the extent that it can never again fire a projectile. It is basically old iron, but with a special status. Therefore, it does not have to be stored in a safe either, but can be kept in the living room on the wall or on the table. Do realise what unknowing neighbours or passers-by might think if you see someone walking around the house with a gun. Use your wits and avoid problems of unnecessary police visits.
Yes, you can put it on a table, cabinet or hang it on the wall, but keep in mind what strangers looking in might see. If people think than you have a real weapon on the table and they alert the police, you will have a lot of trouble.
Anything goes. You can make a weapon out of any piece of steel if you have the right tools. But making a defective weapon work again is just as much work as making a new one. On top of that, essential parts can only be bought if you have the right licence to do so. So it is not possible for a handy hobbyist.
Before the EU DECO regulation came into force, handguns and (semi) automatic weapons could not be legally deactivated. With the advent of the EU DECO legislation, many gun collectors are very happy because from then on, all firearms with an eu deco certificate may be owned by persons aged 18 and above.
No, replica weapons are banned in the Netherlands and cannot be disabled either. However, there is an exception and that is airsoft weapons, officially called airsoft devices. Possession of these is only allowed in the Netherlands if you are a member of an airsoft association.
Before the introduction of European regulations, each country had its own rules. With the advent of the EU DECO regulation, there are no more national differences.
This depends on the type of weapon. In addition to the cost of inspecting the deactivated weapon, there are In the guidelines, it is stated for each type of weapon what needs to be deactivated. Disabling/deactivating a pellet gun takes less
time, than disabling a gun with moving slide and hammer.
No and, unlike sports shooters, who are allowed to own a maximum of five and hunters who are allowed six weapons on their hunting licence, there are no restrictions on the number of deactivated eu deco weapons.
Yes, an individual may sell his or her deactivated EU-DECO weapon to another individual, provided that person is 18 years of age or older, or to a licensed firearms dealer
These are European regulations and the starting point is that each country applies the same rules. As far as we know, there are no stricter rules than those in the law
That depends on the damage. If you can get it right again with polishing or buffing, you may do that yourself. If a part is broken off, only an authorised gun repairer may replace/repair it.
Each country has its own institute for that. In the Netherlands, it is done by the police, PU department in Apeldoorn. In Belgium the test bench in Liege. In Germany, there are several test benches etc.
A deactivated fist firearm or semi-automatic weapon without EU DECO hallmarks and without an EU DECO certificate is considered an illegal firearm. Even if it is cast from plastic or composite. The consequence in the Netherlands is violation of the weapons law, which carries heavy penalties.
Yes, it is allowed, provided it is properly packed and not readily available, the law says. A gun case is a perfect solution for transporting an EU DECO weapon.
This will usually fall under household contents insurance. If you have a whole collection, contact your intermediary or insurance company to insure it on a collectibles or valuables insurance policy.
It depends on why it was confiscated. If a police officer thinks he found a sharp firearm at your home and confiscates it, you will probably just get it back. If you have been walking around the mall with it openly and
waving it around, you will not get it back. It will be destroyed and a severe punishment will follow.
Under the old regulation, pistols and revolvers could not be disabled. Automatic rifles could also not be deactivated. Under the old regulation, only bolt action rifles and non-automatic shotguns were allowed to be deactivated. Old deactivated weapons were not given a mark of deactivation on the weapon. Under the EU DECO scheme, every essential part of the deactivated weapon will be marked.
Yes, there are. Shipping from the Netherlands gives no problems. From some other European countries, there are stricter rules for shipping deactivated weapons.
Those differences can be big. The answer can never be complete, Because the regulations in Japan will be different from those in Australia and different again in USA and different again Thailand or Canada. One thing is certain. Modern weapons that are not deactivated according to EU DECO rules are not legal in Europe.
