IMPORT CONTROLS ON BLADED WEAPONS,
MARTIAL ARTS AND SPORTING GOODS
The importation of certain bladed weapons, martial arts goods
and sporting goods is controlled under Schedule 2 of the
Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956.
WHAT BLADED WEAPONS,
MARTIAL ARTS AND SPORTING
GOODS ARE CONTROLLED?
The table on the back of this fact sheet defines each item
controlled in Schedule 2 that this fact sheet refers to.
HOW DO I OBTAIN PERMISSION
TO IMPORT?
You can import these goods if you have written permission to
from the Minister for Home Affairs, or an authorised person, prior
to the arrival of goods in Australia.
Official Use
If you are importing goods for use by the Commonwealth, state
or territory government or a government of another country
you must provide a B711 Form – End/Owner Assurance for
the Purposes of Schedules 2 and 3 of the Customs (Prohibited
Imports) Regulations 1965 signed by the end user. This form
must be lodged with a B710 Form – Application for Permission to
Import Schedule 2 and 3 weapons as detailed below.
The B711 Form is used to verify that the goods are being
imported for the official end user purposes. If a B711 Form
cannot be provided, or the goods are for private use, a B709B
Form is required as detailed below.
Private Use
To import goods for private use, you will need to contact the
police firearms and weapons registry in the relevant state and
territory to obtain a B709B Form – Importation of Weapons –
Police Confirmation. This form provides written confirmation to
possess the goods within the relevant state or territory.
B710 Form
Once you have obtained a B709B Form or have evidence of
end use, you then need to complete a B710 Form – Application
for Permission to Import Schedule 2 & 3 Weapons. This form is
available from any Customs and Border Protection office or the
Customs and Border Protection website, www.customs.gov.au
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO
OBTAIN PERMISSION TO IMPORT?
B710 Forms – Applications for permission to import Schedule
2 & 3 weapons take up to three (3) weeks for processing from
the date they are received by Customs and Border Protection in
Canberra.
HOW LONG IS PERMISSION VALID FOR?
Permission to import documents apply to one importation only.
They are usually valid up to the expiration date on the B709B
Form supplied with the application or for six months from the
date of signature if end user evidence is supplied instead.
EXPORT CONTROLS
NOTE: There are no restrictions on the export of bladed
weapons, martial arts and sporting goods.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Penalty
The maximum penalty for importing these goods without import
permission is a fine not exceeding $275,000 or imprisonment for
10 years, or both.
Contacts
Contact details of the police firearms and weapons registries
can be found on the Customs and Border Protection fact sheet -
Firearms and weapons information contacts.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For information on any Customs and Border Protection matter,
contact the Customs Information and Support Centre on
1300 363 263 or email information@customs.gov.au or
browse the website www.customs.gov.au
BLADED WEAPONS
Item Description
Daggers and similar Sharp pointed, concealable, doubled edged knives. Traditional long swords and bayonets are excluded.
devices

Ballistic knives Knives that discharge a blade as a projectile.

Flick knives and Knives that can opened with gravity or centrifugal force and/or pressure applied to a button, spring or
similar devices device in or attached to the handle of the knife.

Concealed knives, A concealed knife, blade or spike made from any material.
blades and spikes

Star knives and Any knife, blade or spike with more than one angular point disposed outwardly about a central axis
similar devices point that is made of any material.

Sheath knives Knives with a sheath that withdraws into the handle by gravity or centrifugal force and/or pressure
applied to a button, spring or other device and made of any material.

Push knives Knives and similar devices that consist of a single or multi-edged blade or spike with a transverse
handle that allows the blade or spike to be supported by the palm and used to inflict stabbing blows or
slashes in a pushing action and made of any material.

Trench knives Knives and similar devices that consist of a single or multi-edged blade or spike with a handle that
protects the knuckles and increases the effects of a punch or blow and made of any material.

Throwing blades, knives Blades, knives and axes made of any material designed to be thrown.
and axes

Non-metallic and Knives, blades and spikes made from a non-metallic or non-ceramic material such as carbon fibre
non-ceramic knives, (excluding plastic cutlery).
blades and spikes

Butterfly knives and Butterfly knives and other devices that consists of a single or multi-edged blade or spike that fits within
similar devices two handles attached to the blade by transverse pivot pins that opens by gravity or centrifugal force.

MARTIAL ARTS AND SPORTING GOODS

Item Description
Blow-guns and blow-pipes Blow-guns and blow-pipes, or other devices consisting of a pipe or tube, that are capable of
and darts projecting a dart through a pipe or tube using the exhaled breath of the user or means other than
explosive and darts for use with these items.

Nunchakus Goods known as nunchakus and similar items such as a three sectional staff.

Crossbows All crossbows capable of causing damage to property or bodily harm when discharged (excluding toys).

Knuckle-dusters and Knuckle-dusters and similar devices that can be fitted over the knuckles to protect the knuckles and
similar devices increase the effects of a punch or blow.

Gloves and similar hand Gloves and similar hand coverings incorporating protrusions designed to puncture or bruise the skin.
coverings with protrusions

Hunting slings, catapults Hunting slings, catapults and sling shots designed for use with a component that is a brace that fits
and sling shots designed upon the forearm or other part of the body to support the wrist or forearm against the tension of any
for use with a brace material used to propel a projectile.

Hand and foot claws Articles consisting of claws made or modified to be attached to or worn on the hands or feet.

Weighted gloves and Weighted gloves and similar articles designed or constructed to be used as a weapon that is
similar articles designed to increase the effect of a punch or blow.

Shark darts and similar Shark darts and similar devices designed to expel, on or after contact, a gas or other substance
devices capable of causing bodily harm.

Dart projectors and Dart projectors known as ‘darchery slingers’ and similar devices designed to project a dart by means
similar devices of an elasticised band.

Maces and similar articles Maces and similar articles capable of causing injury that consist of a club or staff fitted with a flanged
or spiked head (excluding ceremonial maces designed solely for ceremonial purposes).

Flails and similar articles Flails and similar articles consisting of a staff or handle that has a free swinging striking part armed
with spikes or any studded material fitted to one end.

December 2010