Guidance Documents
Guidance Documents
Under 28 CFR 50.26, except where expressly authorized by law or as expressly incorporated into a contract, guidance documents issued by a Department component lack the force or effect of law and do not bind the public; noncompliance with voluntary standards will not, in itself, result in any enforcement action. In addition, 28 CFR 50.27 articulates processes and procedures for DOJ’s use of guidance documents, including the use of guidance documents in litigation.
| Component | Document | Issued | Posted | ID | Topic | Overview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1968-28: Importation of Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War | October 23, 1968 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1311971 | Firearms | This circular announces the transfer of the Arms Import Control Program from the Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Treasury. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1970-14: Importation of Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War | April 8, 1970 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1311976 | Firearms | This circular announces the issuance of a new Treasury Department regulation, Part 180 of Title 26, Code of Federal Regulations, entitled Importation of Arms, Ammunition and Implements of War. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1972-4: Implementaion on the National Environmental Policy Act | March 1, 1972 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1311981 | Explosives | This circular advises on the implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1972-30: Identification of Personal Fireams at Premises | October 10, 1972 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1311986 | Firearms | The circular urges licensed firearms dealers to identify their prsonal collection of firearms kept at the business premises. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1974-11: Environmental Responsibilities | October 30, 1974 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1311991 | Explosives | This circular advises proprietors of their responsibility to ATF with respect to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act, and of the possible effects of these requirements upon their activities. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1974-13: Verification of Identity and Status of Firearms Transferees | November 12, 1974 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1311996 | Firearms | The circular reminds firearms dealers, manufacturers, and importers of the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, and Subpart F of th eRegulatons thereunder (26 CFR 178) pertaining to sales or deliveries of firearms or ammunition between licensees. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1975-1: Penguns Classified as Firearms | January 23, 1975 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312001 | Firearms | This circular announces the reclassification of small caliber weapons (such as penguns) ostensibly designed to expel only tear gas, similar substances or pyrotechnic signals, which may be converted to expel a projectile by means of an explosive, as firearms. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1975-8: Multiple Sales of Pistols and Revolvers | April 29, 1975 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312006 | Firearms | This circular reminds FFLs to make areport of a multiple sale or other disposition of pistols and revolvers. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1976-3: RecodificationExplosives Security | February 12, 1976 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312011 | Explosives | This circular requests all FFLs to report thefts or lossess of explsives from their magazines or premises promptly. For purposes of security notify the nearest ATF office and local authorities. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1977-11: Theft or Loss of Explosives | July 28, 1977 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312016 | Explosives | This circular informs those involved in the manufacture, distribution, storage or use of explosives that ATF Ruling 77-13, which deals with reporting theft or loss of explosive materials, was published in the ATF Bulletin for May 1977. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1977-20: Duuplication of Serial Numbers on Imported Firearms | October 13, 1977 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312021 | Firearms | This circular reminds importers of firearms and destructive devices that they must apply a unque serial number to any imported firearm or ammunition regardless of the source or country of origin. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1982-8: Discontinuance of ATF Form 5400.3, for Black Powder | July 13, 1982 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312026 | Explosives | This circular notifies explosives licensees that ATF Form 5400.3, Transaction Record for Black Powder to be used for antique weapons, is no longer required. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1983-9: Three Year Firearms License | June 13, 1979 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312031 | Firearms | This circular inform FFLs of a Treasury decision effection August 1, 1983, T.D. ATF 135 (48 FR 24065), implemetning a three year firearms license. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1983-11: Potentional Explosion Hazard in Ammunition Reloading Machines | October 26, 1983 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312036 | Explosives | This circular has been published to inform you of a potential explosion hazard relating to a malfunctioning of automatic ammunition reloading equipment. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1984-10: Sales of Firearms by FFLs at Gun Shows | December 31, 1984 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312041 | Firearms | This circular discuesses sales of Fireams and Ammunition by Licensees at Gun Shows. The regulations have been changed (effective november 29, 1984), to allow licensees to engage in business at gun shows held within the same state as the licensed premises. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1985-11: Surplus Military Firearms Frames or Receivers | September 17, 1985 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312046 | Firearms | This circular announces that ATF will allow the importation of surplus military curio or relic firearms that were previously prohibited from importation by 18 U.S.C. section 925(d)(3). |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1985-2: Importation of National Firearms Act Curio and Relic Firearms | April 1, 1985 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312051 | Firearms | This circular provides information concerning the importation of National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms for use as a sample for sales to law enforcement agencies when such firearms have been determined to be curios or relics. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1986-12: Explosives Security | August 25, 1986 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312056 | Explosives | This circular has been published to inform you of a potential explosion hazard relating to a malfunctioning of automatic ammunition reloading equipment. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1986-15: Armor Piercing Ammunition | December 4, 1986 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312061 | Firearms | This circular announces that the President signed Public Law 99-408, on August 28, 1986. This law regulates the manufacture, importation and sale of armor piercing ammunition. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1986-8: Curio and Relic Updates | May 5, 1986 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312066 | Firearms | This circular announces an addition of firearms that have been classified as curios and relics during the period January 1985 through March 1986. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1989-6: Facsimile Transmitted Copies | September 27, 1989 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312071 | Firearms | This circurlar advises that ATF will accept facsimile versions of certain ATF Forms. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1991-1: Explosives Security | January 24, 1991 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312076 | Explosives | This circular advises industry members of serious problems with storage of explosives which may pose a danger to the public, and to alert industry members to the possibility of theft of explosives by terrorists because of the deteriorating Mideast situation. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1993-5: Tax-Exempt and Tax-Free Sales of Firearms, Shells and Cartridges | July 13, 1993 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312081 | Firearms | This circular gives general guidance to firearms and ammunition excise taxpayers about making tax-exempt or tax-free sales of firearms, and shells and cartridges (ammunition). |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1995-1: Diversion of Distilled Spirits for Purposes of Smuggling | January 19, 1995 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312086 | Alcohol & Tobacco | This circular reminds proprietors of distilled spirits plants (DSPs), importers, wholesalers and other persons who purchase distilled spirits products from DSPs of their responsibility to comply with all applicable Federal and state laws with respect to such sales. |
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Industry Circular 1999-2: Unlawful Transportation, Shipmemt or Sale of Cigarettes | June 6, 1992 | February 28, 2020 | DOJ-1312091 | Alcohol & Tobacco | This circular reminds all persons of the Federal law (and penalties) applying to the shipments, sale or possession of cigarettes and to the domestic sales of cigarettes marked for export. Additionally, this circular addresses the sale of cigarettes on Native American tribal reservations.Unlawful transportation, shipment, or sale of cigarettes and domestic sale of cigarettes labeled for export. |