Requirements for air, paintball and plastic pellet guns

Low-power air, paintball and plastic pellet guns must meet the requirements put forward in consumer safety legislation. Their safety and compliance is monitored by Tukes and Finnish Customs.

The company responsible for the compliance of air, paintball and plastic pellet guns must ensure that it adheres to its responsibilities pursuant to the Consumer Safety Act.

If you sell air, paintball or plastic pellet guns remember that:

  • selling and otherwise permanently handing over air guns, spring operated weapons and harpoons to a person under the age of 18 without the permission of their guardian is prohibited;
  • it must be possible to verify the identity of the guardian by means such as being able to contact the guardian via telephone if needed; and
  • the police monitors compliance with the Public Order Act. (Public Order Act 612/2003, Section 11)

The scope of application of the Firearms Act includes:

  • tools with which bullets, pellets or other projectiles or incapacitating substances can be fired with the help of powder gas pressure, explosion pressure of primer mass or of other explosion pressure so that it may cause danger to people;
  • powerful air guns.

The police is the competent authority with regard to firearms within the scope of application of the Firearms Act.

User’s responsibility

It is prohibited to disturb public order or to endanger public security in a public place. The Firearms Act specifically mentions shooting or throwing objects, and other similar actions that could endanger public security. Plastic pellet guns are often accurate reproductions of real firearms and inconsideration and disorderly conduct involving them may lead to dangerous situations.

The user of air, paintball and plastic pellet guns is responsible for ensuring that their use does not cause danger to others.

A plastic pellet, air or paintball gun is not a toy. They are also not within the scope of safety standards that apply to toys. Especially in residential areas, people with no protective equipment can become subject to gunplay, and a pellet that hits an eye, ear, tooth or nostril may cause serious injuries. Plastic pellets left in nature also cause environmental damage. Guardians are responsible for supervising their children and the articles they play with.