According to the available evidence, specific published evidence within the provided official sources detailing the abolition of the counter-signatory requirement for firearm applications and its replacement with a system for two references is not explicitly identified. According to the available evidence, such a procedural change would typically be outlined in Home Office guidance on firearms licensing, which would have been updated following the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997, and the most recent relevant legislative action was over 25 years ago.