The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has welcomed new measures which cut bureaucracy for shooters visiting Northern Ireland.
The Department of Justice Northern Ireland has amended regulations to allow acceptance of a copy of a European Firearms Pass for those travelling with sporting firearms and applying for a visitor’s firearm permit.
BASC NI had previously called on the Department of Justice to make the change in order to simplify Northern Ireland firearms legislation.
Visitors to Northern Ireland from the UK still need to apply for a certificate of approval from the Police Service of Northern Ireland however BASC is lobbying for this requirement to be scrapped.
BASC NI director Tommy Mayne said: "We welcome this decision from the Department of Justice. It will make it easier for EU residents to visit Northern Ireland for the wide range of shooting sports which it offers, bringing valuable tourism income with them."
Shooting is worth £45 million a year to the NI economy.
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