Title
Ban on Toy Firearms and Explosives
Law
Letter Of Instruction No. 1264
Decision Date
Jul 31, 1982
In order to prevent public deception and ensure public safety, the Philippine government implements a ban on the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale, and display of toy firearms and explosives that closely resemble genuine ones, with the police instructed to confiscate any prohibited toys used for illegal purposes.

Policy purpose and public welfare

  • The instruction is founded on the proliferation of imported toy firearms and explosives that replicate genuine firearms and explosives in appearance, measurements, color, and parts.
  • The instruction recognizes that such toys can mislead the public into believing they are genuine firearms and explosives.
  • The instruction states that these toy replicas have been used for illegal and/or criminal purposes by unscrupulous individuals.
  • The instruction declares an imperative need to ban specified toy firearms and explosives in the interest of public safety and general welfare.

Prohibited toy firearms and explosives

  • The instruction prohibits the importation of toy firearms and explosives that are replicas in appearance, measurements, color, and parts of genuine counterpart firearms and explosives.
  • The instruction prohibits the manufacture of such toy firearms and explosives, even if dissimilar in some aspects, provided they are replicas in appearance, measurements, color, and parts.
  • The instruction prohibits the distribution of such toy firearms and explosives.
  • The instruction prohibits the sale of such toy firearms and explosives.
  • The instruction prohibits the display of such toy firearms and explosives.

Implementing rules and responsible ministers

  • The instruction directs the Ministers of Finance, Trade and Industry, Local Government and National Defense to issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the prohibition.
  • The instruction requires strict compliance by all concerned parties with the prohibition and implementation direction.
  • The instruction empowers the designated ministers to operationalize enforcement through rules and regulations.

Confiscation and law-enforcement action

  • The Philippine Constabulary/Integrated National Police is directed to confiscate all toy firearms and explosives described in the prohibition.
  • Confiscation covers toys that are displayed or otherwise used for illegal or criminal purposes.
  • Confiscation applies to toy replicas meeting the description: replicas in appearance, measurements, color, and parts of genuine counterpart firearms and explosives.
  • Enforcement is directed specifically where such toys are used for illegal or criminal purposes.

Compliance requirement

  • Strict compliance with Letter of Instruction No. 1264 is expressly enjoined.
  • Compliance is required by the implementation rules to be issued by the designated ministers and by enforcement through the directed confiscation action.

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