22.—(1) In this Order “Article 7 authority” means a document issued under paragraph (2) or (4).
(2) Where a person who resides in Northern Ireland is granted, or is the holder of, a firearm certificate, he shall be entitled to be issued by the Chief Constable with a document stating that, for the purposes of Article 7 of the European weapons directive, the holder of the firearm certificate has the agreement of the United Kingdom authorities, for so long as the firearm certificate remains in force, to any purchase or acquisition by him in [F1a member State] of any firearm or ammunition to which the firearm certificate relates.
(3) A person may make an application for the issue of an Article 7 authority under paragraph (2)—
(a)at the same time as an application for a firearm certificate which will entitle him to the issue of the document under that paragraph; or
(b)subsequently while the firearm certificate is in force.
(4) Where—
(a)a person who resides in Northern Ireland is proposing to purchase or acquire any firearm or ammunition in [F1a member State];
(b)he is not the holder of a firearm certificate relating to that firearm or ammunition;
(c)the firearm falls within category B for the purposes of Annex I to the European weapons directive or the ammunition is capable of being used with such a firearm; and
(d)he satisfies the Chief Constable that he is not proposing to bring that firearm or ammunition into [F2Northern Ireland],
the Chief Constable may issue him with a document stating that, for the purposes of Article 7 of the European weapons directive, he has the agreement of the United Kingdom authorities to any purchase or acquisition by him in [F1a member State] of that firearm or ammunition.
F1Words in Order substituted (31.12.2020 immediately before IP completion day) by The Law Enforcement and Security (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1371), regs. 1, 5(3)
F2Words in art. 22(4)(d) substituted (31.12.2020 immediately before IP completion day) by The Law Enforcement and Security (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1371), regs. 1, 5(5)