Response from BASC

>This relates to the legal definition of a firearm - " a lethal barrelled weapon, capable of discharging a projectile". At the moment there is no set definition of lethality. we are recommending that a muzzle energy of 1 joule should be taken as the accepted minimum definition. This is not a power limit on airguns - they are already classed as firearms in the eyes of the law. It would adopt an accepted (in other European countries) minimum definition for lethality which would exclude airsoft and bb guns, spud guns etc from firearms legislation and make life less complicated. I repeat it is not and would not be taken as a maximum power limit.

Still concerned this is a backdoor route to increasing restrictions (FAC, cabinets etc)

If all airguns are firearms then presumably all require FAC??