Temporary Imports to Repair Firearms From Ukraine Are Allowed, BIS Says

U.S. companies can temporarily import certain controlled firearms they previously exported to Ukraine in order to service or repair them, the Bureau of Industry and Security clarified as part of a broader Russia-related final rule released Jan. 23. BIS said those firearms can be temporarily imported under License Exception RPL (Replacement of Parts and Equipment) as long as they were originally exported under a BIS license.

The agency said it has received questions on this issue and plans to soon address it by updating guidance on its website with a frequently asked question. That FAQ, which is included in the rule, covers a company that exported 500 firearms to Ukraine using a BIS license in 2022, but now needs to temporarily return 50 of them to the U.S. for repair. BIS said those returns would be allowed.