The ACT is leading Australia in restricting the access of rapid fire lever action shotguns, with legislation to reclassify the firearms introduced into the ACT Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

Police minister Mick Gentleman said the ACT was the first jurisdiction in Australia to move on the changes agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in December.

The changes would mean only farmers and professional shooters would be able to access certain shotguns.

"The amended classifications strike an appropriate balance between the right of the community to live safely and the interests of licensed firearm users," Mr Gentleman said in a statement.

Under the draft laws, lever action shotguns with magazine capacity up to five rounds will be reclassified from category A to category B.

Lever action shotguns with magazine capacity of more than five rounds will be reclassified from category A to category D.

Only farmers, recreational hunters and pest controllers can be granted Category B licenses.

A Category D classification is more restrictive – only professional shooters and primary producers whose need can't be met by another firearm can use shotguns in this class.

Last October, ACT Policing told Fairfax Media there were 40 Adler A110 five-shot, lever-action shotguns registered to owners in Canberra.

The federal government temporarily banned the importation of lever action shot guns with capacity for more than five rounds in 2015, in response to an influx of Adler A110s coming into the country.

That import ban was extended after COAG's decision to restrict their availability in December.

Mr Gentleman told the assembly the government had proceeded with the bill despite concerns expressed by the ACT Firearms Consultative Committee.

"Today we see the devastating effects these firearms can have in societies where strong controls on keeping these firearms out of the wrong hands are not in place," Mr Gentleman said.

"Unlike significant changes to firearms laws over the last 20 years, the Bill we are introducing today will have no financial impact on the ACT. No ACT firearms owners will be required to surrender their firearms."

The ACT Firearms Registry reported that there were four firearms licensees with lever action shotguns held under a Category A licence, Mr Gentleman said.

"After discussion with the firearms registry, [all four] have had their licences changed to Category A/B.

"The registry also confirmed there are no registered lever action shotguns in the ACT with a magazine capacity over five rounds."

The draft laws will be further debated when the ACT parliament next sits in May.