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The Scope and Implications of a Tracing Mechanism for Small Arms ...

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169<br />

• Classic marking has the advantage <strong>of</strong> being easy to read, but it is also<br />

easily obliterated. In order to counter this problem, all newly<br />

manufactured weapons also have an “adequate security” marking, the<br />

contents <strong>of</strong> which can be read by specialized institutions when the<br />

classical marking has been erased. This security marking is indelible or<br />

very difficult to erase, 28 <strong>and</strong> is produced by means <strong>of</strong> a technique that<br />

is simple <strong>and</strong> inexpensive. 29<br />

• All ammunition <strong>of</strong> the same batch <strong>and</strong> all explosives <strong>of</strong> the same batch<br />

have a marking that mentions a unique batch number; 30<br />

• Firearms, ammunition <strong>and</strong> explosives that do not meet the above<br />

st<strong>and</strong>ards are declared illicit. All illicit weapons are destroyed, as<br />

<strong>for</strong>eseen in the OSCE Document.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Vienna Protocol<br />

• During the manufacturing process, all concerned firearms are tagged<br />

with: (i) either a unique marking, which includes a unique serial<br />

number, the country or place <strong>of</strong> manufacture <strong>and</strong> the name <strong>of</strong> the<br />

manufacturer, (ii) or any alternative unique <strong>and</strong> user-friendly marking<br />

with simple geometric symbols 31 in combination with a code<br />

permitting all States to easily identify the country <strong>of</strong> manufacture<br />

(Article 8.1.a).<br />

• On each imported weapon, the following is applied: (i) a simple<br />

marking permitting the identification <strong>of</strong> the country <strong>of</strong> import, <strong>and</strong>, if<br />

possible, the year <strong>of</strong> import. This principle is however not applicable to<br />

temporary imports (Article 8.1.b); (ii) a unique marking if the firearm<br />

does not bear such a marking;<br />

• When State stockpiles are transferred to the civilian market, an<br />

appropriate <strong>and</strong> unique marking is applied that permits the<br />

identification <strong>of</strong> the transferring country (Article 8.1.c);<br />

• States encourage the arms industry to develop measures against the<br />

removal or alteration <strong>of</strong> markings (Article 8.2.).<br />

<strong>The</strong> UN Programme <strong>of</strong> Action<br />

• Each State ensures that licensed manufacturers undertake, during the<br />

manufacturing process, to reliably mark all small arms permitting the<br />

identification <strong>of</strong> the country <strong>of</strong> manufacture. <strong>The</strong> marking must also

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