# The Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2026, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Rules)
These Rules make amendments to the Firearms Rules 1998 (S.I. 1998/1941) (“the 1998 Rules”).
Rule 2(2) amends Rule 3 of the 1998 Rules to require as a condition of a firearm certificate that the applicant must notify the police if they are diagnosed with or treated for a relevant medical condition, or if their existing symptoms relating to a previously disclosed relevant medical condition have worsened since their certificate was granted. The applicant must also notify the police if they consult any medical practitioner other than their General Practitioner or a General Practitioner from the same practice, regarding a relevant medical condition and provide contact details for the medical practitioner and of the treatment received.
Rule 2(3) amends Rule 5 of the 1998 Rules to require as a condition of a shot gun certificate that the applicant must notify the police if they are diagnosed with or treated for a relevant medical condition, or if their existing symptoms relating to a previously disclosed relevant medical condition have worsened since their certificate was granted. The applicant must also notify the police if they consult any medical practitioner other than their General Practitioner or a General Practitioner from the same practice, regarding a relevant medical condition and provide contact details for the medical practitioner and of the treatment received.
Rule 2(4)(a) replaces the existing application form for a grant or renewal of a firearm and/or shot gun certificate with the application form in Schedule 1.
Rule 2(4)(b) replaces the existing firearm certificate with the certificate in Schedule 2.
Rule 2(5) replaces the existing shot gun certificate with the certificate in Schedule 3.
Rule 3 makes provision to enable chief officers of police to process applications which are made using the form to be replaced by Schedule 1 to this Order, provided that the application concerned is received on or before 29th October 2026.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/1050/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/firearms-amendment-rules-2026/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.