Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

29-September-2011 17:33 IST

Government Issues Ammonium Nitrate Rules for Stakeholders Consultations

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 17 of the Explosives Act, 1884 (IV of 1884), the Central Government declared, by notification (S.O. No. 1678(E) dated 21st August 2011, that Ammonium Nitrate having chemical formula NH4NO3 or any combination containing more than 45 percent of Ammonium Nitrate by weight including emulsions, suspensions, melts or gels (with or without inorganic nitrates) shall be deemed to be an explosive within the meaning of the said Act, provided that such Ammonium Nitrate or any combination thereof shall not include those fertilisers from which Ammonium Nitrate cannot be extracted by any physical or chemical process.

It was further explained in the notification that the Explosives Rules, 2008 shall not be applicable to Ammonium Nitrate or any combination thereof, as referred to in opening portion of this notification, except for the materials or mixtures classified as explosive under said Explosives Rules 2008 and there shall be framed separate rules for regulating the Ammonium Nitrate, or combination thereof under Section 5 and Section 7 of Explosives Act, 1884.

Accordingly, draft Ammonium Nitrate Rules have been framed with a view to regulate the use of Ammonium Nitrate for bonafide purpose by incorporating provisions relating to its safe manufacture, transport, storage, sale, use, import/export, etc. The draft rules have been published by notification GSR No. 649 (E) dated 16th September, 2011 in the Gazette of India for seeking the comments of all stakeholders before finalisation of the Rules. The draft rules may also be accessed through Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion’s website: http://dipp.nic.in

The objections or suggestions may be sent to the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Room No. 135, Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi -110011 E-mail: [email protected]

Any objection or suggestion received from any person with respect to the said draft rules before the date so specified will be considered by the Central Government.

DS/GK

Ammonium nitrate regulation declared explosive; draft rules seek stakeholder input and mandate safety and supply controls. Declaration classifies Ammonium Nitrate as an explosive under the Explosives Act, 1884, excludes most ammonium nitrate materials from the Explosives Rules, 2008, and requires separate rules. A draft Ammonium Nitrate Rules has been published for stakeholder consultation to regulate safe manufacture, transport, storage, sale, use, import/export and related controls, with submissions invited for consideration before finalisation.