Home / Agencies / DOJ / 2026-08911
Proposed Rule

Update to Proscribed Countries for Import Restrictions

Agency
DOJ
Document Number
2026-08911
Published
May 6, 2026
Effective Date
-

Abstract

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") is proposing to amend Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to remove the existing, outdated list of proscribed countries from which ATF denies applications to permanently import defense articles and services and update it to reference a Department of State list of proscribed countries. The rule also proposes to remove the list of former Soviet countries from which ATF currently denies applications to permanently import most firearms and ammunition, leaving only the Russian Federation as the proscribed country of origin for these imports.

Federal Register Source

This document is published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration. Access the full regulatory text, preamble, and docket comments below.

View Full Text on FederalRegister.gov →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 2026-08911 Federal Register document?
Document 2026-08911 is a Proposed Rule published by the Department of Justice in the Federal Register on May 6, 2026. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") is proposing to amend Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to remove the existing, outdated list of proscribed countries from which ATF denies applications to permanently import defense articles and services and update it to reference a Department of State list of proscribed countries. The rule also proposes to remove the list of former Soviet countries from which ATF currently denies applications to permanently import most firearms and ammunition, leaving only the Russian Federation as the proscribed country of origin for these imports. View the original at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/06/2026-08911/update-to-proscribed-countries-for-import-restrictions.
Is document 2026-08911 an economically significant rule?
No. Document 2026-08911 is not classified as economically significant under Executive Order 12866. Economically significant rules require OIRA review and are estimated to have impacts of $100 million or more per year.

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