Legal basis and objective
The War Weapons Control Act(KrWaffKontrG) is one of the central laws for the control of war weapons in Germany. Its purpose is to strictly regulate and monitor the manufacture, trade, storage and transfer of war weapons. It thus makes an important contribution to maintaining peace and international security.
The Act is subject to the supervision of the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control(BAFA) and the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection(BMWK) and is closely linked to international arms control and non-proliferation agreements.
What does the War Weapons Control Act regulate?
The War Weapons Control Act ensures that the handling of war weapons is reserved exclusively for authorized persons and companies. In particular, it contains regulations on:
- Licensing requirements: Anyone who manufactures, possesses, stores, acquires, transfers or transports war weapons requires a state license.
- Documentation obligations: Companies and organizations are obliged to keep a war weapons book that provides complete evidence of all changes in stock.
- Controls and reporting obligations: Companies must submit regular semi-annual reports to BAFA and be prepared for official inspections.
- Penalties and sanctions: Violations of the KrWaffKontrG can lead to high fines or prison sentences.
Who is affected by the War Weapons Control Act?
The KrWaffKontrG affects a large number of companies and organizations, in particular:
- Armaments companies that develop, produce or export weapons of war or their components.
- Logistics and transport companies responsible for the transportation or storage of weapons of war.
- Research institutes and government agencies that work with security-relevant technologies.
- Maintenance and repair companies that repair weapons of war or their components.
Companies in these areas must be aware of their legal obligations in order to act in accordance with the law and avoid possible sanctions.
The war weapons book as a central documentation requirement
A central component of the legal requirements is the maintenance of a war weapons log. This document is used to seamlessly track all movements of war weapons within a company.
🔹 What data must be recorded?
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Type and designation of the weapon of war
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Serial numbers and individual markings
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Acquisition and submission date
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Details of suppliers and recipients
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Information on storage locations and transportation
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Approval numbers and official certificates
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🔹 What form must the war weapons book take?
The War Weapons Book can be kept in paper form or electronically. The electronic version – the electronic War Weapons Book(eKWB) – offers considerable advantages in terms of efficiency, security and error prevention. In addition, since 2020, the semi-annual report must be submitted to the BAFA in digital form.
Legal consequences of violations
Non-compliance with the KrWaffKontrG can have serious consequences:
- Fines and prison sentences: Companies or individuals who violate the regulations can face severe penalties. Depending on the severity of the offense, fines or even prison sentences of up to ten years may be imposed.
- Withdrawal of licenses: Companies that violate the law risk losing their operating license and are not allowed to carry out any further war weapons-related activities.
- Reputational damage: In addition to the legal consequences, an infringement can have a considerable negative impact on a company’s reputation.
Legally compliant documentation is essential
Compliance with the War Weapons Control Act is of central importance for companies that work with war weapons or their components. By carefully maintaining a war weapons logbook and implementing an electronic documentation system, companies can efficiently fulfil their legal obligations while minimizing the risk of violations.
Find out more about our electronic War Weapons Book(eKWB) and how it helps you to fulfill your legal obligations safely and efficiently!
