Verification and certification of deactivation of firearms
Article 3
1. Member States shall designate a competent authority to verify that the deactivation of the firearm has been carried out in accordance with the technical specifications set out in Annex I (‘the verifying entity’). 2. Where the verifying entity is also authorised to deactivate firearms, Member States shall ensure a clear separation of those tasks and of the persons carrying them out within that entity. 3. The Commission shall publish on its website a list of the verifying entities designated by Member States, including detailed information on and the symbol of the verifying entity as well as contact information. 4. Where the deactivation of the firearm has been carried out in accordance with the technical specifications set out in Annex I, the verifying entity shall issue to the owner of the firearm a deactivation certificate in accordance with the template set out in Annex III. All information included in the deactivation certificate shall be provided both in the language of the Member State where the deactivation certificate is issued as well as in English. 5. The owner of a deactivated firearm shall retain the deactivation certificate at all times. If the deactivated firearm is placed on the market, it shall be accompanied by the deactivation certificate. 6. Member States shall ensure that a record is kept of the certificates issued for deactivated firearms, with an indication of the date of deactivation and the certificate number, for a period of at least 20 years.