Converting Temporary to Permanent Imports for Defense Articles

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives 27 CFR Parts 447 and 478 [Docket No. ATF-2026-0100; ATF No. 2025R-16P] RIN 1140-AA68 AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Department of Justice. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) proposes to amend Department of Justice (“Department”) regulations regarding the permanent import provisions of the Arms Export Control Act (“AECA”). The proposed rule would allow importers to apply for ATF authorization to convert items imported temporarily—under a Department of State (“DOS”) authorization or under the entry clearance requirements for temporary imports in the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) maintained by the Department of Commerce (“DOC”)—to permanent imports in compliance with other applicable federal firearms laws, without having to export and then reimport the items. DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing, and must be submitted on or before (or, if mailed, must be postmarked on or before) August 6, 2026. Commenters should be aware that the federal e-rulemaking portal comment system will not accept comments after midnight Eastern Time on the last day of the comment period. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by number RIN 1140-AA68, by either of the following methods— Federal e-rulemaking p…