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Consulting with Canadians on the proposed addition of Brazil and Montenegro to the Automatic Firearms Country Control List

Current status: Open

This consultation will remain open from November 4, 2024, to December 3, 2024.

Background

The Automatic Firearms Country Control List (AFCCL) is a positive list of countries to which Canadians may export the following items from Canada with a valid export permit:

Further to paragraph 7.2(b) and subsection 15(2) of the EIPA, certain prohibited firearms, weapons and devices, that are included on the Export Control List, may only be exported to countries listed on the AFCCL and only to the governments of those countries or to end-users authorized by those governments. There are currently 46 countries on the AFCCL.

The fact that a country is listed in the AFCCL does not mean a permit application will be automatically approved. Since September 2019, any permit application to export AFCCL-controlled items to eligible destinations is assessed on a case-by-case basis against criteria laid out both in policy and legislation (including the Arms Trade Treaty assessment criteria and the substantial risk test). The Minister of Foreign Affairs shall not issue a permit where there is a substantial risk that AFCCL-controlled items could be used to commit or to facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law, serious violations of international human rights law, or serious acts of gender-based violence or violence against vulnerable groups, amongst other criteria.

What will be the focus of consultations?

The Government of Canada invites stakeholders and the public to provide their views regarding a proposed regulatory amendment that could add Brazil and Montenegro to the AFCCL. This proposal, if approved by the Governor in Council, would allow the Minister of Foreign Affairs to consider permit applications for exports of prohibited firearms, weapons and devices to Brazil and Montenegro. As per Canada's established practice, such permit applications would be assessed on a case-by-case basis under Canada's robust risk assessment framework, including the Arms Trade Treaty criteria that are enshrined in Canada's EIPA.

Join in: How to participate

The Government of Canada is seeking stakeholder views on the proposed addition of Brazil and Montenegro to the AFCCL. The public comment period is open for 30 days and so you have until December 3, 2024, to submit your views using one of these options:

Send us an email

Send an email to expctrlpol@international.gc.ca with the subject line "AFCCL Consultation 2024" along with your comments and ideas to make yourself heard.

Participate by mail

Send a letter with your ideas and input to the address in the contact information below

Privacy notice

Please read the privacy notice statement carefully prior to sending a written submission.

Related information

Contact us

Export Controls Policy Division

Global Affairs Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa
K1A 0G2
Email: expctrlpol@international.gc.ca 

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