The notices relate to the online sale, listing, advertisement, or facilitation of regulated and hazardous products such as ammonium nitrate, gun powder, picric acid, pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN)
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 2019, has initiated regulatory action against the unauthorised online sale and advertisement of hazardous chemicals, explosive substances and related precursors on digital platforms. The authority has issued notices to major ecommerce platforms regarding the same.
The CCPA initiated action following inputs regarding the online listing and sale of hazardous and regulated substances on platforms including IndiaMart, Justdial, Sigma-Aldrich India, Dial4Trade ExportersIndia.
The notices relate to the online sale, listing, advertisement, or facilitation of regulated and hazardous products such as ammonium nitrate, gun powder, picric acid, pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). The CCPA has issued a total of eight notices to various entities, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said.
“The substances identified include explosive precursors and hazardous chemicals which may pose serious risks to public safety and national security if sold without proper safeguards and verification mechanisms. Unauthorized online access to such hazardous substances may expose consumers to serious safety risks and unlawful supply channels,” the official statement from the ministry pointed out.
The authority has issued notices to concerned e-commerce entities and online platforms seeking details regarding seller information and licensing compliance, buyer verification mechanisms, quantities sold, import details and applicable regulatory approvals.
As part of the coordinated regulatory response, the CCPA also convened a meeting with officials of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (Peso) to examine the existing regulatory framework governing hazardous and explosive substances. The list of sellers operating on these platforms, as provided by the ecommerce entities, has also been shared with Peso for necessary action under applicable laws and regulatory provisions.
The ministry emphasised that following the intervention and enforcement actions initiated by the CCPA, several online platforms and entities have started removing, blocking, restricting, or delisting listings related to hazardous chemicals and explosive substances.
