The controversial Adler shotgun is a step closer to being allowed into Australia after a decision by the New South Wales Government.

The Commonwealth currently does not allow Adler A110 shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than five rounds into Australia.

The Federal Government has said states and territories must agree on a new classification before it removes the import restriction.

The nation's justice ministers could not reach a deal in October, with New South Wales wanting the gun more readily available than other states.

But the ABC understands NSW has fallen into line with other jurisdictions and is prepared to reclassify the gun as a category D weapon.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said if states and territories agreed on that category, sales of the gun would be tightly controlled.

"Different proposals have been mentioned but if, for example, lever action guns with a magazine of more than five rounds were classified as category D, that would be available to very few users at all," Mr Turnbull said.

"Basically feral pest controllers, generally working for governments.

"When agreement is reached, then the import rules will be changed so that they conform with the classification.

"We've imposed the ban, the import ban, we've maintained the ban, pending that agreement."

Mr Turnbull will meet with premiers and chief ministers at the Council of Australian Governments meeting on Friday.

Furore over the Adler A110 peaked last month when Labor accused the Coalition of a "guns for votes" deal to scrap the import ban with pro-firearm crossbench senator David Leyonhjelm.