Firearms Regulations 2019 revoked in GB on 4 Mar 2026

If you teach or study law or citizenship, here’s the plain‑English version. On 4 March 2026, the Firearms (Revocation, Consequential Amendment and Saving Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/118) take effect across the UK. They redraw the rules for deactivated firearms, and they do so differently in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland.

The Home Office made the Regulations on 9 February 2026, laid them before Parliament on 11 February, and set commencement for 4 March 2026. The full text and note are on legislation.gov.uk, and the powers come from the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023. For students, these dates help frame any timeline questions.

In Great Britain, the big change is revocation. The Firearms Regulations 2019 are switched off for England, Wales and Scotland. The EU‑derived duty to notify the authorities about a transfer of a deactivated firearm, or about first possession, no longer applies in Great Britain after 4 March 2026. Other domestic firearms laws still apply.

In Northern Ireland, the 2019 rules continue but are adjusted. The “appropriate national authority” becomes the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland, and for these Regulations “firearm” follows the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004. Failing to give a required notice remains a summary offence punishable by a level 1 fine, the lowest on the standard scale.

Think of the duties as two simple notices-one on transfer, one on first possession. Northern Ireland keeps both after 4 March 2026, and non‑notification can attract a level 1 fine on summary conviction. Great Britain no longer has those specific notice offences once the revocation takes effect.

There is a safety net for people in Great Britain who acted before the change. If you transferred a deactivated firearm or first possessed one before 4 March 2026 but had not given notice, you can still do so on or after that date. For that limited purpose, the 2019 Regulations are treated as if they still apply so you do not fall into an offence because of timing.

A second safety net preserves a defence in Great Britain. If you possessed a deactivated firearm before 4 March 2026 and later reasonably believe the transferor had given, or would give, the transfer notice, the defence in regulation 3(5) of the 2019 Regulations still operates. This protects genuine transferees who relied on the other party’s notification.

The split approach comes from post‑Brexit housekeeping. The 2019 Regulations helped implement EU firearms directives-first Directive (EU) 2017/853, now codified as Directive (EU) 2021/555. Using the Retained EU Law Act 2023, ministers have revoked the Great Britain parts while maintaining and updating the Northern Ireland parts.

Mark the milestones clearly for assignments and compliance. Sift requirements were satisfied on 28 January 2026, the instrument was made on 9 February, it was laid on 11 February, and it starts on 4 March 2026. Anchoring to exact dates avoids confusion about “today” or “soon”.

For readers in Great Britain, the practical takeaway is clarity. After 4 March 2026 there is no central legal duty from the 2019 Regulations to notify the transfer or first possession of deactivated firearms. Keep hold of documents such as deactivation certificates and sales records, and check any future police or Home Office guidance.

For readers in Northern Ireland, the message is continuity. You must continue to notify transfers and first possession under the 2019 Regulations as amended, with the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland as the authority. Keep proof of any notices given, as non‑notification remains a level 1 summary offence.

This is a useful case study in devolution and in how saving provisions work. One UK instrument creates two outcomes, and a built‑in grace period handles older cases fairly. We wrote this as an explainer for learning-if you own or handle deactivated firearms, seek official guidance for your situation.