The stakeholders and general public is hereby informed that Fireworks in India have been declared as restricted item under ITC (HS) in respect of import by Director General of Foreign Trade. The manufacture, possession, use, sale, etc. of any explosive containing sulphur or sulphurate in admixture with any chlorate is banned in the country vide Notification GSR No.64 (E) dated 27.1.1992. Till date, no licence for import of fireworks has been granted under the Explosives Rules, 2008 by Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organisation, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

It has been brought to the notice of the Government that fireworks of foreign origin are being illegally brought into India under false declarations. Various Fireworks Associations have informed that these smuggled items include the chemical `Potassium Chlorate` which is a dangerous and hazardous chemical and can ignite or explode spontaneously. The Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers’ Association (TANFAMA) has also informed that illegal fireworks of foreign origin have penetrated into our country in large quantities and they are likely to be sold through retail outlets extensively during coming Diwali season.

In view of the above, General Public/ Stakeholders are requested that information about possession and/or sale of such fireworks may be reported to the nearest Police Station or District Authorities for suitable action.

Restricted import of fireworks bars illegal foreign pyrotechnics with hazardous chemicals; report possession or sale for enforcement. Fireworks of foreign origin are restricted import items and explosives containing sulphur-chlorate mixtures are prohibited; no import licences have been issued under the explosives regulatory framework. Reports show smuggling of fireworks containing the hazardous chemical potassium chlorate into retail channels, and the public is requested to report possession or sale to police or district authorities for enforcement.