Sword ban, final version (allegedly)

[mostlyfoo]

The To-Ken society of Great Britain have got a document posted which is the proposed amendment to the offensive weapons act 1988.

It seems that they're banning any curved sword 50cm or longer, you'll be able to import/buy/sell/loan/trade/lend/transport (I think all them, I need to re-read the original act) provided that one of the following is true:

1. It was made in Japan before 1954
2. It was made in Japan later than 1954 and is traditionally forged
3. You are using it in relation to the organisation or holding of an allowed event, which includes:
   
   1. "historical re-enactment" which is re-enacting an event of the past or illustrating conduct from a particular time and place in the past
   2. "sporting activity" means the practicing of a sport which requires such a weapon

So it looks like collectors are going to be faffed about (unless they start buying pricey properly forged blades from Japan) they'll need to take up some form of re-enactment, martial art or putting on of informative museum style displays to keep buying regular blades if I'm reading this right (ignore my summary, read the actual thing).

Anyone know if its legal under EU laws to restrict the supply of an item like that? I mean valid Japanese-style blades are produced in the UK, Europe, China and America from memory, can they really just ban them all and establish a monopoly on Japanese blades?

Its an interesting one as AFAIK getting a blade into Japan is a several day paperchase nightmare, so its not like you could bounce bare blades through there for fittings and claim they were "made" there.