The information on this page is general, is not legal advice, and laws change. We cite the source and the date we checked it. Before buying or using a device, verify the rules with the relevant authority or hunting association. Last checked: 9 Nov 2026.
In short: Adults can buy and own night vision and thermal observation devices (monoculars, binoculars, handheld thermal) in all 17 countries we checked; we found no ban. Most civilian night vision and thermal devices are dual-use items (entries 6A002 and 6A003). They can therefore be sold and shipped within the EU without a licence, export outside the EU needs an authorisation, and export to Russia is banned. Devices specially designed for military use (category ML15) and US devices under ITAR are subject to stricter rules, including on resale. Being Gen3 does not by itself make a device military equipment; what matters is military design. Rules on riflescopes and hunting differ from country to country.
Three separate questions
Night vision touches three different areas of law. Export control decides whether and where a device may be sold and exported. Weapons law decides whether you may own a riflescope or clip-on for a firearm. Hunting law decides whether you may use it in the field. A device can be fine under one and banned under another. Every statement below carries its legal source and a label: Verified 9 Nov 2026 (checked in the legal text or an official document), Our inference (our conclusion from the cited rules) or Not verified – check with the authority.
EU export control: what counts as a dual-use item
The basis is Regulation (EU) 2021/821. Its Annex I, the list of controlled items, was replaced by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2003, published on 14 Nov 2025 and in force from 15 Nov 2025 (Arts. 1 and 2). The relevant entries for night vision and thermal are (EUR-Lex): Verified 9 Nov 2026.
- 6A002.a.2.a – image intensifier tubes meeting three conditions at once: peak response in the 400–1,050 nm range; amplification by a microchannel plate (MCP) with a hole pitch of 12 µm or less, or by an electron sensing device with a pixel pitch of 500 µm or less (e.g. EBAPS, digital intensifiers); and a GaAs or GaInAs photocathode (regardless of performance), or a multialkali photocathode above 350 µA/lm, or another III/V photocathode above 10 mA/W.
- 6A002.c – finished “direct view” devices – monoculars, binoculars and riflescopes – that contain such a tube. The exemption in the Note to 6A002.c never applies to GaAs or GaInAs photocathodes.
- 6A002.a.3.f – microbolometer sensors for 8–14 µm, with no resolution threshold.
- 6A003.b.4.b – thermal cameras with such sensors. Cameras with a frame rate of 9 Hz or less are not controlled (Note 3(a)), nor are some fixed-lens cameras without a display (Note 3(b)).
In practice: Gen3 is always controlled for export outside the EU (as a dual-use item), good Gen2+ tubes usually are too, and phosphor colour (green or white) makes no difference. Hunting thermal devices at 25 or 50 Hz are controlled for export outside the EU; 9 Hz versions are not. Our inference.
Selling and shipping within the EU: no licence
A licence for transfers between member states is needed only for items in Annex IV (Art. 11(1) of Regulation 2021/821). Annex IV contains some other Category 6 items (e.g. part of 6A001, 6B008, 6D003.a), but not 6A002 or 6A003 (EUR-Lex). A member state may extend the requirement (Art. 11(2)) where the final destination is outside the EU, direct export there would need an authorisation and the goods are not processed in the receiving member state. Verified 9 Nov 2026. The weapons and hunting laws of the destination country always apply.
Export outside the EU: authorisation required, Russia banned
Exporting Annex I items requires an authorisation (Art. 3(1)). For 6A002 and 6A003 the Union general export authorisation EU001 (Annex II, Section A) covers Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland including Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Part 3 conditions are: registration before first use where the member state requires it; notification of first use within 30 days of the first export (or in advance where required); and stating EU001 in the customs declaration. EU001 cannot be used, for example, if the exporter knows (or has been informed by the authority) that the items may be intended for weapons of mass destruction or for a military end-use in an arms-embargoed country, or for exports to a free zone or free warehouse. Export records must be kept for at least 5 years from the end of the calendar year of export (Art. 27(3)). Verified 9 Nov 2026. So from the EU’s point of view the UK, Norway and Switzerland are exports. Other destinations (e.g. Serbia, Ukraine) need an individual or global authorisation from the national authority. Our inference.
Council Regulation 833/2014, Art. 2 prohibits selling, supplying, transferring or exporting Annex I items to Russia, and providing technical assistance for them, whatever their origin (EUR-Lex). Verified 9 Nov 2026. We did not check the regime for Belarus or for uncontrolled 9 Hz thermal devices. Not verified – check with the authority.
Pending change. On 14 Sep 2026 the Commission adopted another delegated regulation amending Annex I. As of 9 Nov 2026 it is not in force because the objection period of Parliament and Council is still running (Baker McKenzie). We do not know whether it changes 6A002 or 6A003. Not verified – check with the authority. We will update this article once it is published.
Check with: the export-control authority of your country (in Slovakia the Ministry of Economy, in Czechia the Ministry of Industry and Trade).
The military list (ML15): when a device is military equipment
Alongside dual-use rules there is the EU Common Military List. The current version was adopted by the Council on 23 Feb 2026 (ST 5828/26, English version). The heading of category ML15 reads: “Imaging or countermeasure equipment, as follows, specially designed for military use, and specially designed components and accessories therefor:”, and item c) is “Image intensifier equipment”. A note says that ML15 does not apply to “first generation image intensifier tubes” or to equipment specially designed to incorporate them. The list defines these as “Electrostatically focused tubes, employing input and output fibre optic or glass face plates, multi-alkali photocathodes (S-20 or S-25), but not microchannel plate amplifiers”. A further note points to dual-use entries 6A002.a, 6A002.b and 6A003.b. Verified 9 Nov 2026.
Neither the EU Common Military List nor the Wassenaar Arrangement Munitions List (Munitions List 2022) defines “specially designed for military use”. Verified 9 Nov 2026. The only interpretive text we found is the non-binding guidance “Specially Designed for Military Use (SDfMU) update, February 2022”, published by the French DGA (PDF). Under it, military intent is judged by the item’s “specifications, characteristics, capabilities or functions” that make it suitable for the military purpose described in the list. An item chosen from a product line that is not on the control lists (in other words, a civilian range) is not specially designed for military use just because it meets military standards when tested. The guidance itself says it is only an aid to interpretation and does not affect national sovereignty. It contains no night vision example. Verified 9 Nov 2026.
In Slovakia, where we are based, the list of defence-industry products is issued by the Ministry of Economy as Measure 1/2026 (Notice 109/2026, in force 5 Jun 2026). Act 392/2011 treats even a plain “sale or purchase of defence-industry products” as trading (§ 2(1)(a)), including domestic sales. Only holders of a Ministry of Economy permit may trade (§ 5(1)). Section 3 of the Act defines defence-industry products by design, among others as products “osobitne určené na používanie v ozbrojených silách” (specifically intended for use by the armed forces, § 3(a)) and equipment “skonštruované osobitne na vojenské účely” (constructed specifically for military purposes, § 3(b)); the English glosses are our translation. The conditions are strict, including share capital of at least €166,000 for applicants that are not manufacturers (§ 5(1)) and an industrial security certificate (§ 6(2)). There is no exception for private individuals. Trading without a permit carries a fine of €3,320 – €166,000 (§ 39(1)(d), § 40(1)(e)). Verified 9 Nov 2026.
Put simply: a device or tube designed for military use may only be sold by someone holding the required permits, and only to an authorised recipient. In Slovakia this also applies to a later private resale, for example on a second-hand marketplace. Our inference. In Czechia, Act 38/1994 Coll. covers only foreign trade in military material (export, import, intra-EU transfer and deals with foreign persons) and requires a permit (§ 6) and a licence (§ 14) from the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Verified 9 Nov 2026.
Check with: the authority that classifies military items in your country (in Slovakia the Ministry of Economy; in France the DGA classifies on request).
What “Gen3”, “4G”, “5G” and “ITAR free” mean
Gen3
Dual-use rules do not use marketing generations; they use tube parameters. Gen3 means a GaAs photocathode. A tube with a GaAs photocathode and an MCP hole pitch of 12 µm or less falls within 6A002.a.2.a.3.b, whatever the FOM or phosphor colour; a complete direct-view device falls within 6A002.c. Verified 9 Nov 2026. That all common Gen3 tubes meet this pitch: Our inference. More on generations in our article Tube generations.
Is Gen3 automatically military equipment? No. A Gen3 (GaAs) tube or device is not military equipment merely because it is Gen3. ML15 excludes only the first generation and covers equipment specially designed for military use – not automatically every other generation. A Gen3 device without military design features is a dual-use item: the tube falls under 6A002.a.2.a.3.b (if its MCP pitch is 12 µm or less) and a direct-view device under 6A002.c. Selling it within the EU needs no dual-use licence, because 6A002 is not in Annex IV of Regulation 2021/821; exporting it outside the EU does. Our inference.
In our view, the following features may indicate military design. This is not an official list. Our inference.
- a helmet or NATO-standard mounting interface designed for the military,
- a military contract or a NATO Stock Number (NSN),
- design for use with infrared aiming lasers,
- design as a weapon sight – such a device may fall under ML5.a, ML1 or ML2 instead of ML15.
We found no published EU or national ruling classifying Gen3 either way. The Council working party on conventional arms exports (COARM) discussed new SDfMU guiding questions in May 2026 (document WK 6824/26; entry in the Austrian Parliament EU database). The document is not public and we do not know its content; the question remains open. Not verified – check with the authority.
If in doubt, the competent authority decides: in Slovakia the Ministry of Economy (MH SR), in Czechia the Licensing Administration of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Licenční správa MPO), in Germany BAFA, in France the DGA. Both sellers and buyers can ask for a classification of a specific product. Our inference.
US-made Gen3 also carries US controls. Under 22 CFR 121.1 (USML Cat. XII), goggles, monoculars and binoculars with an autogated Gen3 or better tube fall under XII(c)(1)(i). Weapon sights and clip-ons specially designed to mount to a weapon fall under XII(c)(2) if they have Gen2 above 350 µA/lm, any Gen3, or an infrared sensor above 1,000 nm (so US thermal riflescopes too). The whole of XII(c) is “Significant Military Equipment” (SME). Any resale to another end user or into another country requires prior written approval from DDTC (§ 123.9(a)), even within the EU. For SME a licence is issued only with form DSP-83, in which the recipient undertakes not to re-transfer the item without approval (§ 123.10). Verified 9 Nov 2026. In our reading, non-autogated US handheld Gen3 devices fall under the EAR (ECCN 6A002) and need a BIS licence for export to the EU (15 CFR 774). Our inference. That is why US ITAR devices are not normally available to civilians in the EU.
ITAR free
“ITAR free” is not a legal term; we found no definition of it in the ITAR (22 CFR 120–130). Our inference. Exosens (formerly Photonis) explains it in its FAQ by production in Brive (France) and Roden (Netherlands). It only means the tube has no US origin, so ITAR does not apply. It does not mean “uncontrolled”. Exosens’ own Product Policy lists night vision among its sensitive products in its export-control section. An “ITAR free” tube therefore still falls under EU rules – as 6A002 or as ML15.
4G and 5G
4G and 5G are Exosens product names, not legal categories. Exosens does not publish a legal classification for either. Verified 9 Nov 2026. The 4G leaflet states FOM 1,800 min., 55 lp/mm, “MADE IN EU” and “ITAR FREE”, but not the photocathode type, its sensitivity or the MCP pitch. The manufacturer launched the 5G tube on 9 Sep 2025 (FOM 2,500 min.), describing it as mainly suited to the “very high demands of special forces” and as technology for NATO members and allies (press release). Its FY2025 results report an order for 7,000 5G tubes for European special forces. For civilian use – hunting and sport shooting – the manufacturer offers the ECHO range. Verified 9 Nov 2026.
In its own document “Difference Gen3 – 4G” (PDF), Photonis (now Exosens) states that photocathodes today are either GaAs or Hybrid Multi-Alkali (HyMa), which Photonis produces under the 4G brand. It gives a spectral range of roughly 500–900 nm for GaAs and 350–1,100 nm for HyMa, and says the “Generation” label does not determine a tube’s performance. Verified 9 Nov 2026.
Our inference: 4G is therefore not Gen3 in the technical sense. For export control it is assessed under the multialkali criterion, 6A002.a.2.a.3.a: it is controlled if its sensitivity exceeds 350 µA/lm and the MCP pitch is 12 µm or less. The 4G leaflet does not state the sensitivity; the manufacturer also compares its Hi-QE photocathode with standard S20 multialkali cathodes (Exosens). In our view a FOM of 1,800 or more cannot be reached below 350 µA/lm, so we assume 4G in a civilian device is a dual-use item. Our inference.
5G: We have not verified the classification of 5G. The manufacturer markets it mainly for special forces and armed forces, but we found no public classification decision; in France the DGA issues one on request (Guide du classement ML). We are verifying the classification with the manufacturer. Not verified – check with the authority.
Resale: second-hand sales
| Type of device | Resale within the EU | Resale outside the EU | Legal basis and status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual-use (6A002/6A003, non-US origin), e.g. ordinary thermal, Gen2+, ECHO, civilian Gen3 without military design | free, no licence | a new export – authorisation needed (EU001 or national); Russia banned | Reg. 2021/821, Arts. 3 and 11 Verified 9 Nov 2026. That obligations do not pass to the next owner: Our inference. |
| Military item ML15 (devices specially designed for military use; classification of 5G not verified) | Slovakia: every sale is trading – permit from the Ministry of Economy; transfer to another member state needs a transfer licence | licence and end-user document with a no-re-export clause | Slovak Act 392/2011, §§ 2, 5, 16, 26 Verified 9 Nov 2026. Classification of 5G: Not verified – check with the authority. |
| US device under ITAR (autogated Gen3, weapon sights) | only with prior DDTC approval | only with prior DDTC approval | 22 CFR 123.9 Verified 9 Nov 2026. |
| US device under EAR (non-autogated Gen3) | per the BIS licence conditions | per the BIS licence conditions plus EU authorisation | 15 CFR 774 Our inference. |
Check with: before selling a device abroad, contact your national export-control authority. For a US device, only the seller’s documents on the original licence can tell you what is allowed.
17 countries: ownership, riflescopes, hunting
The table is for residents using a device in their own country. Observation devices are not banned anywhere; we infer this from finding no ban in the rules we checked. Our inference. The differences lie in riflescopes for firearms and their use in hunting. The rules of the country where you use the device apply, not those of the country where you bought it.
| Country | Observation devices | Riflescopes (weapons law) | Hunting use | Where to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slovakia | No restriction. Our inference. | Act 500/2021, Art. I point 16 (in force 18 Dec 2021), rewrote § 4(4) of Firearms Act 190/2003: the only prohibited firearm accessory is now a sound suppressor (since 1 Jul 2025 only one that does not meet the conditions of a separate regulation). Night vision and thermal riflescopes are no longer on the list. Verified 9 Nov 2026. | § 65(2)(c) and (k) of Hunting Act 274/2009 bans hunting with night vision devices, night-shooting sights and artificial light. Exceptions are granted by the Ministry of Agriculture (MPRV SR, § 72(p)). The current exception for wild boar runs 1 Mar 2026 – 28 Feb 2027 (MPRV SR, letter No. 3583/2026 5410/2026-740 of 17 Feb 2026). Verified 9 Nov 2026. A separate exception (letter No. 3616/2026 5414/2026-740) covers red, fallow and mouflon deer, sika deer, red fox and selected invasive species for the same period, but not roe deer. The exceptions are temporary – details in our Slovakia article. | MPRV SR, Slovak Hunting Chamber; firearms: police |
| Czechia | No restriction. Our inference. | Act 90/2024 Coll. (from 1 Jan 2026) does not list night vision devices among regulated firearm parts. We searched most of the text, not all of it. Not verified – check with the authority. | Act 220/2025 Coll., Part 14, Art. XVI point 5 removed the ban on night vision riflescopes in § 45(1)(g) of Hunting Act 449/2001 Coll. from 1 Jan 2026. The ban on artificial light remains; at night only listed species with suitable optics (§ 45(1)(l)). Verified 9 Nov 2026. Whether an IR illuminator counts as artificial light: Not verified – check with the authority. | hunting authority, Czech Police; see our Czechia article |
| Germany | Handheld devices without a weapon mount are not banned. Our inference. | Night vision devices and night riflescopes with a firearm mount, and front or rear clip-ons with an image converter or electronic amplification, are prohibited items (WaffG Annex 2, Section 1, No. 1.2.4.2). Jagdschein holders may use clip-ons for hunting, but not standalone riflescopes (§ 40(3) WaffG). The Bundesrat bill (BR-Drs. 203/25, in the Bundestag BT-Drs. 21/893) has not been passed. Verified 9 Nov 2026. | § 19(1) No. 5a BJagdG bans hunting with night riflescopes; the federal states may deviate (§ 19(2)). Verified 9 Nov 2026. Individual state rules: Not verified – check with the authority. | state weapons authority and hunting authority |
| Austria | No restriction. Our inference. | § 17 WaffG (prohibited weapons) does not list night vision or thermal riflescopes. Only devices specially developed for military use are war material; for the models listed in the Finance Ministry (BMF) customs guidance, a built-in reticle is decisive. Verified 9 Nov 2026. | Hunting is regulated by each federal state. Lower Austria (§ 95 NÖ JG, from 3 Feb 2026): artificial night aiming aids only for wild boar and furred predators (Haarraubwild), with permitted devices set by state regulation; the hunter must have held a Lower Austrian Jagdkarte continuously for 3 years or completed a Landesjagdverband course, and needs written consent of the hunting-right holder (para. 1 no. 4, para. 4). Verified 9 Nov 2026. Upper Austria (Oö. JagdG 2024) and the other states: Not verified – check with the authority. | state hunting authority, Landesjagdverband |
| Poland | No restriction; for night hunting, binoculars or a thermal or night vision observation device plus a torch are mandatory equipment (§ 7(1)(1)). Verified 9 Nov 2026. | Weapons law not checked. Not verified – check with the authority. | Regulation of 23 Mar 2005 (Dz.U. 2005 item 548), § 4(1a) as replaced by the regulation of 7 Nov 2022 (Dz.U. 2022 item 2323): night vision and thermal riflescopes for night hunting of wild boar, fox, badger, stone marten, American mink and invasive species, nationwide. Verified 9 Nov 2026. Later amendments: Not verified – check with the authority. | hunting authority, police |
| Hungary | Observation devices are expressly allowed when hunting (§ 37/A(2)). Verified 9 Nov 2026. | Weapons law not checked. Not verified – check with the authority. | Act LV of 1996 (Vtv.), § 37/A: a riflescope with electronic image intensifier or converter is banned for night hunting, but allowed with a hunting-authority permit for set species and periods (paras 3–4). Verified 9 Nov 2026. | hunting authority (vadászati hatóság) |
| France | Civilian devices unrestricted. Military night vision and “sans l’aide des mains” (e.g. helmet-mounted) devices are war material (CSI Art. R311-2, cat. A2, 14°). Verified 9 Nov 2026. Exact scope for NVGs: Our inference. | Civilian riflescopes: Our inference. | Arrêté of 1 Aug 1986, Art. 7 (version from 10 Jul 2026) is a closed list: for hunting only handheld night vision and thermal monoculars and binoculars, not clip-ons or riflescopes. Verified 9 Nov 2026. | prefecture, departmental hunting federation |
| Italy | No restriction. Our inference. | Weapons law not checked. Not verified – check with the authority. | Law 157/1992 has no express ban; hunting is limited by time windows (Art. 18(7)). Thermal optics are possible in regional wildlife-control plans (secondary source). Not verified – check with the authority. | region, province |
| Spain | No restriction. Our inference. | RD 137/1993 (Reglamento de Armas), Arts. 1–32: no mention. Verified 9 Nov 2026. | Ley 42/2007, Annex VII bans sights with an image converter or electronic intensifier for night shooting. Verified 9 Nov 2026. Castilla y León allowing them for big game from Sep 2026 (secondary source): Not verified – check with the authority. | autonomous community |
| United Kingdom | No restriction found. Our inference. Export from the EU to the UK = EU001. | No restriction found. Our inference. | WCA 1981 s. 11(2)(d)(v) bans target-illuminating devices and sighting devices for night shooting for Schedule 6 animals. England: deer at night only under licence CL55 (thermal min. 640×480, ≤ 17 µm, ≥ 50 mm, ≥ 50 Hz). Scotland: SSI 2023/332, from 3 Nov 2023. Verified 9 Nov 2026. CL55 validity after 31 Jul 2026: Not verified – check with the authority. | Natural England (CL55); in Scotland the competent authority |
| Sweden | No restriction. Our inference. | No restriction found. Our inference. | Jaktförordningen (1987:905) § 14 a: wild boar only. Thermal riflescopes only in open terrain or at bait sites; image intensifiers or converters are not subject to this limit. Verified 9 Nov 2026. | hunting authority, police |
| Finland | No restriction. Our inference. | Weapons law not checked. Not verified – check with the authority. | Act 214/2024 (from 10 May 2024), § 33(3) Hunting Act: wild boar hunting may depart from the ban on night sights and artificial light, no permit needed. Verified 9 Nov 2026. | hunting authority, police |
| Norway | No restriction. Our inference. Export from the EU to Norway = EU001. | Weapons law not checked. Not verified – check with the authority. | Viltressursloven from 1 Jul 2026. Per the draft: wild boar and red fox; for red deer the municipality decides. Final text: Not verified – check with the authority. | municipality, Landbruksdirektoratet |
| Denmark | No restriction. Our inference. | Weapons law not checked. Not verified – check with the authority. | Hunting with night vision not allowed according to a secondary source (Netnatur). Not verified – check with the authority. | hunting authority, police |
| Netherlands | No restriction. Our inference. | Night vision not found in the Weapons and Ammunition Act (WWM) lists. Not verified – check with the authority. | Provincial exemptions, e.g. Gelderland: fox until 25 Jun 2027. Verified 9 Nov 2026. Overall regime: Not verified – check with the authority. | province |
| Belgium | Observation devices unrestricted. Our inference. | Night riflescopes are a prohibited weapon (Art. 3 § 1 15° Weapons Act of 8 Jun 2006). Bill 56K0191 (articles adopted in plenary on 10 Jul 2025; text submitted for royal assent, 56K0191/014 of 17 Jul 2025): serial-numbered night sights for long guns for hunting-licence holders, if the region allows their use; transfers reported to the provincial governor. Verified 9 Nov 2026. Publication and entry into force: Not verified – check with the authority. Thermal and clip-ons: Not verified – check with the authority. | Depends on the region. Not verified – check with the authority. | provincial governor, region |
| Luxembourg | No restriction. Our inference. | The law of 2 Feb 2022 bans sighting equipment projecting a light beam onto the target (laser, possibly IR) (Conseil d’État). Not verified – check with the authority. | A draft regulation would lift the ban on electronic sights; hunting at night remains banned. Not verified – check with the authority. | hunting authority, police |
Check with: before a hunting trip abroad, ask the hunting authority or the hunt organiser in the destination country, including about transporting the firearm and the riflescope.
Important notice
Every country has its own laws, and they change. We processed these rules carefully from primary sources – the laws and regulations linked above – and had them independently checked. Even so, there may be gaps, or a rule may have changed since we checked it. This article is not legal advice.
We recommend that everyone study the relevant EU rules and the laws of their own country, and of the country where they will use the device. If you are unsure, contact the competent authority or a lawyer, or send us a specific question.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821, Art. 3(1), Art. 4, Art. 11(1) and (2), Art. 27, Annex II Section A (EU001, Parts 1–3), Annex IV – EUR-Lex (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2003 (new Annex I; 6A002.a.2.a, 6A002.a.3.f, 6A002.c, 6A003.b.4.b incl. Note 3), Arts. 1 and 2 – EUR-Lex (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Delegated regulation amending Annex I, adopted 14 Sep 2026, not yet in force – Baker McKenzie (secondary source) – sanctionsnews.bakermckenzie.com (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, Art. 1(a) and Art. 2 (Russia) – EUR-Lex, consolidated (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- EU Common Military List, category ML15 incl. the note and the definition of first-generation tubes, adopted by the Council 23 Feb 2026, ST 5828/26 – English version (PDF), Slovak version (PDF) (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Wassenaar Arrangement, Munitions List (December 2022), ML15 and definitions – wassenaar.org (PDF) (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Guidance on Specially Designed for Military Use (SDfMU), update February 2022 (non-binding, published by the DGA) – armement.defense.gouv.fr (PDF) (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Council document WK 6824/26 “Specially Designed for Military Use (SDfMU) – guiding questions” (COARM, 19 May 2026, not public; document metadata only) – Austrian Parliament EU database (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Directive 2009/43/EC, Art. 10 – legislation.gov.uk (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Slovakia: Act 392/2011 on trading in defence-industry products, § 2(1)(a), § 3(a) and (b), § 5(1), § 6(2), § 16(4)(b), § 26, § 28, § 39, § 40 – Slov-Lex; Notice 109/2026 (Ministry of Economy Measure 1/2026) – Slov-Lex; Act 39/2011 on dual-use items, § 23, § 32, § 33 – Slov-Lex (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Slovakia: Act 500/2021, Art. I point 16 – Slov-Lex; Firearms Act 190/2003, § 4(4) – Slov-Lex; Hunting Act 274/2009, § 65(2)(c) and (k), § 72(p) – Slov-Lex; list of MPRV SR exceptions – Slovak Hunting Chamber (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Czechia: Act 220/2025 Coll., Part 14, Art. XVI point 5 – Zákony pro lidi; Hunting Act 449/2001 Coll., § 45(1)(g) and (l) – Zákony pro lidi; Act 90/2024 Coll. – Zákony pro lidi; Act 38/1994 Coll., §§ 1, 2, 6 – Zákony pro lidi (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- 22 CFR 121.1 (USML Cat. XII), 22 CFR 123.9 and 123.10 – Cornell LII 121.1, 123.9, 123.10; 15 CFR 774, Supplement 1 (ECCN 6A002) – Cornell LII (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Exosens: 4G leaflet (2026) – PDF; 5G product page – exosens.com; 5G launch press release – exosens.com; FY2025 results – PDF; civilian ECHO tubes – exosens.com; FAQ (ITAR free) – exosens.com; Product Policy – PDF; Hi-QE photocathode – exosens.com (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Photonis/Exosens: Difference Gen3 – 4G (HyMa vs. GaAs photocathode) – exosens.com (PDF) (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- DGA, Guide du classement ML (France) – PDF (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Germany: WaffG Annex 2 – gesetze-im-internet.de, § 40 WaffG – gesetze-im-internet.de, § 19 BJagdG – gesetze-im-internet.de, BT-Drs. 21/893 – Bundestag (PDF) (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Austria: § 17 WaffG – JUSLINE; BMF customs guidance – PDF; § 95 NÖ JG – JUSLINE (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Poland: Dz.U. 2022 item 2323 – Sejm ELI; Hungary: Act LV of 1996, § 37/A – Nemzeti Jogszabálytár (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- France: CSI Art. R311-2 – Légifrance; arrêté of 1 Aug 1986 (mirror of the text) – PDF; Italy: Law 157/1992 – regione.fvg.it; Spain: RD 137/1993 – BOE, Ley 42/2007 – BOE (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- United Kingdom: WCA 1981 s. 11 – legislation.gov.uk; CL55 – GOV.UK; SSI 2023/332 – legislation.gov.uk (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Sweden: jaktförordningen § 14 a – Riksdagen; Finland: Act 214/2024 – Finlex (PDF); Norway: draft regulation – regjeringen.no (PDF); Denmark: Netnatur (secondary source) (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Netherlands: Gelderland provincial decision – PDF; Belgium: La Chambre 56K0191/013 – PDF, 56K0191/014 – PDF; Luxembourg: Conseil d’État, draft regulation – PDF (checked 9 Nov 2026)
The information on this page is general, is not legal advice, and laws change. We cite the source and the date we checked it. Before buying or using a device, verify the rules with the relevant authority or hunting association. Last checked: 9 Nov 2026.