Import of foreign made crackers is restricted. Import can be made only on the basis of an import authorisation. No authorisation has been issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade for import of crackers.

Few cases of such import have been detected by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Customs.

The Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) has written to Chief Commissioner of Customs, Kolkata, Chennai, Nhava Sheva, Raigad (Maharashtra) and New Delhi in this regard. Public Notice was also published in National and Local News papers across the nation to create awareness amongst public against the purchase and use of fireworks of foreign origin.

Since 2010, three applications were received for import of fireworks/crackers from China. All these were rejected on the advise of Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

Import restriction on foreign-made fireworks: authorisation required and unauthorised consignments subject to detection and refusal. Importation of foreign-made fireworks requires an import authorisation; none has been issued for crackers and unauthorised imports are restricted. Safety regulators advised customs formations and public notices were issued to prevent purchase and use of foreign-origin fireworks. Since 2010, applications to import fireworks from abroad were received and rejected following explosives safety advice, indicating import applications undergo safety review and may be denied.