Singapore Police Force - Arms and Explosives (A&E) - Police Licensing & Regulatory Department (PLRD)

Arms and Explosives Act 1913

The import, export and transhipment of arms, explosives and explosives precursors are regulated under the Arms and Explosives Act 1913.

“Arms” is defined as:

(a) Firearms, air-guns, air-pistols, stun guns, electronic dart guns, automatic guns, automatic pistols, guns or any other kind of gun from which any shot, bullet or other missiles can be discharged or noxious fumes or noxious substance can be emitted, and any component part of any such arms; and

(b) bayonets, swords, daggers, spears and spearheads.

“Explosives” is defined as:

(a) Gunpowder, nitro-glycerine, dynamite, gun-cotton, blasting powder, fulminate of mercury or of other metals, coloured fires and every other substance, whether similar to those abovementioned or not, used or manufactured with a view to produce a practical effect by explosion or a pyrotechnic effect;

(b) includes fog signals, fireworks, fuses, rockets, percussion-caps, detonators, cartridges and ammunition of all descriptions, and every adaptation of preparation of an explosive as above defined; and

(c) includes sand crackers, and any substance declared to be deemed an explosive by notification under section 10(1)(a) of the Arms and Explosives Act.

The definition of “explosive precursors” us defined as any substance specified in the Second Schedule of the Arms and Explosive Act.

Regulation of Imports and Exports Regulation

PLRD also regulates the following items under Regulation of Imports and Exports Regulations:

Controlled Imports, Exports and Transhipment

(a) Articles of clothing intended as protection against attack, including bullet-proof vest
(b) Helmets intended as protection in military combat
(c) Toy or replica guns
(d) Toy or replica explosives, grenades, ammunitions or improvised explosive devices (IED)
(e) Handcuffs

Functions of AED (PLRD)

The function of AED (PLRD) is to regulate the dealing in, manufacture, possession or control, storage, import, export and transhipment of arms, explosives and explosive precursors.

Types of Licences

AED PLRD issues two types of licences – long term (valid for a period of up to two years) and short term (valid for a period of 30 days).

Long Term Licences

Licence to possess arms, explosives or explosive precursors
Licence to deal in arms, explosives or explosive precursors
Licence to manufacture arms, explosives or explosive precursors
Licence to store arms, explosives or explosive precursors
Licence to repair arms

Short Term Licences

Licence to import arms, explosives or explosives precursors
Licence to export arms, explosives or explosive precursors
Licence to remove explosives

Offences

Under Section 13(1) of the Arms and Explosives Act 1913, no person shall, unless authorised thereto by licence, and in accordance with the conditions of the licence and such other conditions as may be prescribed:

have in his possession or under his control any gun, arms, explosives, poisonous or noxious gas or noxious substance;
import any gun, arms, explosives, poisonous or noxious gas or noxious substance;
export any gun, arms, explosives, naval or military stores, poisonous or noxious gas or noxious substance; or
manufacture or deal in guns, arms, explosives, poisonous or noxious gas or noxious substance.

Any person who, in contravention of this section:

imports any gun, arms, explosives, poisonous or noxious gas or noxious substance;
exports any gun, arms, explosives, naval or military stores, poisonous or noxious gas or noxious substance; or
manufactures or deals in guns, arms, explosives, poisonous or noxious gas or noxious substance,
shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 and imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years.

Under Section 21A (1) of the Arms and Explosives Act 1913, no person shall, unless authorised thereto by licence, and in accordance with the conditions of the licence and such other conditions as may be prescribed, have in his possession or under his control, import, export, manufacture or deal in any explosive precursor.

Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction:

in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $100,000; and

in any other case, to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

TradeNet Requirements

When declaring TradeNet Permit, the declarant is required to upload the following documents via the TradeNet portal to AED PLRD to support the application:

For import - Bill of Lading/ Air Waybill, invoice
For export - Bill of Lading/ Air Waybill, invoice, End-User Certificate and Import Licence from the authorities of the final destination.
For transhipment - Bill of Lading/Air Waybill, invoice, Import Licence or End-User Certificate from the Authorities of final destination.
Valid Dealer Licence in arms, explosives and explosives precursors issued by AED PLRD.

In addition to the AED PLRD product codes, you are also required to declare the Dealer Licence Number issued by AED PLRD in the “Licence Number” field of your permit application.

Kindly note that AED PLRD no longer accepts submissions of supporting documents via fax or email.

The Product Code for HS codes controlled by AED (PLRD) have to be declared with the Product Code Quantity and Unit. Please note that the Product Code Quantity and Unit for AED (PLRD)’s product codes will be in accordance to the declared HS Unit of Quantity.

The list of AED PLRD regulated Harmonised System Codes and Product Codes can be found here.

When you are importing, exporting or transhipping non-controlled goods which are classified under AED PLRD’s controlled HS codes, you shall declare the product code as “MISC” for these HS codes.

The permit application submitted for AED PLRD controlled items may be combined with the following types of HS codes:

Non-controlled HS codes;
AED PLRD controlled HS code declared with Product code “MISC”; and
other CA controlled HS codes declared with Product code “MISC”.

In addition to the AED (PLRD) product codes, you are also required to declare the Dealer Licence Number issued by AED (PLRD) in the “Licence Number” field of your permit application.

If the Dealer Licence is for your company, you are required to specify the “Arms Dealer Licence” and/or “Explosive Dealer Licence” in the “Licence Number” field.

If you do not require a Dealer Licence, please specify “N.A.” in the “Licence Number” field and the “Name” and “NRIC/Passport Number” of the individual or name of company in the “General/Traders’ Remarks” field of your permit application.

On-line processing of Permit Applications

All permit applications containing AED PLRD controlled items will be routed to AED PLRD for online processing. To facilitate the processing of your permit applications, you are required to upload the relevant abovementioned documents via the TradeNet portal to AED PLRD.

All declarations received will be processed according to the sequence which they are received in TradeNet. Traders are encouraged to submit their declarations early (at least 5 working days before the import, export or transhipment) to avoid delay in the permit approval.

After declaring the permits, the declarant shall check the status of his/her permit application on TradeNet.

If an individual receives queries from AED (PLRD), the declarant shall answer the queries promptly to avoid delay in the permit approval. Generally, AED (PLRD) will process all declarations within 5 working days.

For the export of arms, explosives or explosive precursors, a customs permit must be obtained through TradeNet before the goods depart from Singapore. AED (PLRD) will not approve the permit application of any controlled goods that have departed Singapore. Investigation will be carried out against the exporter for all exportation cases of AED (PLRD)’s controlled goods that were conducted without prior approval and export licence.

Approval Messages

Once the import, export or transhipment permit application is approved, the importer or exporter is required to comply with all the requirements and conditions stated in the approval message(s).

Enquiries

For more information, please visit AED PLRD’s website. For further enquiries, you may contact us at 6835 0000 or email to SPF_Licensing_Feedback@spf.gov.sg.