Federal Register #2026-08911

ATF Proposed Rule: Update to Proscribed Countries for Defense Article Imports

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), part of the Department of Justice, is proposing regulatory changes affecting the importation of defense articles and services. - Government Buyer: - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Department of Justice - Products/Services Requested: - No specific products, part numbers, or quantities are identified in this notice - The rule concerns the importation of defense articles and services, including firearms and ammunition - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) or vendors are mentioned - Unique or Notable Requirements: - The proposed rule would remove the outdated list of proscribed countries from ATF regulations - ATF would instead reference the Department of State's list of proscribed countries for import restrictions - The list of former Soviet countries would be removed, leaving only the Russian Federation as proscribed for firearms and ammunition imports - The change is intended to align ATF policy with current U.S. foreign policy and provide consistency for importers - Public comments are requested on the proposed changes

Description

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is proposing to amend Department of Justice regulations to update the list of proscribed countries from which ATF denies applications to permanently import defense articles and services. The update aligns the list with the Department of State's list of proscribed countries and removes the list of former Soviet countries, leaving only the Russian Federation as proscribed for firearms and ammunition imports. This change aims to provide consistency for importers and reflect current foreign policy. Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted by July 6, 2026.

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