Disposal options for firearms businesses

Option 1: Turn in to a specified facility

When prohibited firearms, devices, or parts and components are turned in, businesses will be compensated based on the program's compensation amounts for businesses.

Businesses also receive an administrative payment of $250 for each firearm turned in to offset processing and packaging costs, as well as inventory and holding costs incurred since the 2020 prohibition.

Create your ASFCP account and submit your business' claim.

All claims must be submitted through your account by April 30, 2025 to receive compensation.

Receive a date and location for your business' shipment.

Once your claim is submitted through your ASFCP account, program staff will contact you by phone within 5 to 7 business days using the telephone number provided when you registered. Program staff will coordinate the date and location for your shipment. Please do not ship your eligible firearms, devices, parts or components before you are contacted by the program.

Package your business' firearms, devices, parts and components.

Your business is responsible for the safe packaging of your firearms, devices, parts and components. Before shipping, ensure that all firearm(s) are unloaded and packaged properly in accordance with the Storage, Display and Transportation of Firearms and Other Weapons by Businesses Regulations (SOR/98-210) and any applicable provincial or territorial laws. Firearms and devices must be "complete" and assembled in order to be eligible for compensation.
Print your unique claim number (provided in your account when you submit your claim) on the outside of the package in a clearly visible area. If program staff cannot validate your shipment using the claim number on the outside of the package, it may be sent back at your own cost.

Select a carrier.
- Your business is responsible for shipping your firearms, devices, parts and components, and must make arrangements with an approved carrier. You may:
  - consult the list of licensed carriers;
  - find a licensed carrier of your choice who provides services in your area;
  - ship by post.
- An amnesty order and federal shipping regulations protects businesses, couriers and postal services from criminal liability during the delivery of prohibited firearms and devices for destruction until October 30, 2025. Businesses and licensed carriers are responsible for verifying if any provincial laws may impact participation in the program. Contact the appropriate provincial authorities for more information.

Upload your shipment tracking number and receipt through your account.
- Include the receipt from your carrier for shipping costs, as well as your carrier name and tracking number. Shipping costs will be reimbursed and included as part of your claim payment.

After your shipment has been received at the specified facility, payment will be issued within 45 business days, provided that all required validations are successfully completed, and no additional review is required.

If you experience issues with a scheduled date to ship your firearms, you can request to reschedule or cancel through your ASFCP account.

Option 2: Permanently deactivate

If you choose to lawfully keep your business' prohibited firearm(s), they must be permanently deactivated by a business authorized to perform firearm deactivations. Your business will be reimbursed a flat rate fee per firearm of $400, or $700 for firearms with a muzzle energy greater than 10,000 Joules, or a bore diameter of 20 mm or greater.

Compensation for deactivation does not include any additional administrative payments.

Lower receivers, parts and components of prohibited firearms are not eligible for deactivation.

Contact a business authorized to perform deactivations
- Your business is responsible for coordinating the permanent deactivation with a business authorized to perform deactivations.
- Keep a copy of your deactivation receipt for the flat rate fee payment.

For previously non-restricted, unregistered firearms

Complete a Deactivation Notice Form
- For any previously non-restricted, unregistered firearms, complete an ASFCP Deactivation Notice – Unregistered Firearm form and bring it to a business authorized to perform deactivations.

Upload your business' receipt and form

Once your firearm has been deactivated, upload your deactivation receipt and completed ASFCP Deactivation Notice form to your account.

For previously restricted and registered firearms

Upload your receipt
- Once your business' firearms have been deactivated, upload your deactivation receipt to your account.

If your business chooses to ship your firearms to a business authorized to perform deactivations, you may:

consult the list of approved licensed carriers;
find a licensed carrier of your choice who provides services in your area.

Shipping costs will not be reimbursed.

Option 3: Export outside of Canada

You can legally export your business' firearms, devices, parts and components abroad to a legitimate customer instead of destruction or deactivation.

Exporting your firearms will take place outside of the ASFCP and your business will not be eligible for compensation under the program. If you choose this option, you may still advise the program by indicating which firearms you intend to export in your account.

You can apply for an export permit for your firearms via NEXCOL.

For more information on how to export your firearm(s) please consult section J of the Export and Brokering Controls Handbook.

Option 4: Return to manufacturer

Businesses can return prohibited firearms and devices to their manufacturer. This option takes place outside of the ASFCP and your business will not be eligible for compensation under the program.

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Date modified:: 2024-12-11

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