CCPA acts on illegal online sale of explosives and chemicals on e-commerce platforms
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has initiated regulatory action against the unauthorised online listing, advertisement, and sale of hazardous chemicals and explosive substances on digital platforms, and issued eight notices to e-commerce entities, the regulator said on Wednesday.
The action was initiated following inputs regarding the online listing and sale of regulated substances on platforms, including IndiaMART, Justdial, Sigma-Aldrich India, Dial4Trade, and ExportersIndia.
The notices seek details on seller information and licensing compliance, buyer verification mechanisms, quantities sold, import details, and applicable regulatory approvals.
Substances flagged include ammonium nitrate, gun powder, picric acid, and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) -- all of which are regulated, restricted, or prohibited under various laws governing public safety and hazardous substance handling.
“Unauthorised online access to such hazardous substances may expose consumers to serious safety risks and unlawful supply channels,” the authority said in a statement.
During its preliminary examination, the CCPA observed that several of these substances were being listed or advertised without the requisite safeguards or verification mechanisms, potentially posing risks to public safety and national security.
The authority has underlined that online platforms and intermediaries must exercise due diligence and ensure strict compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements before permitting the listing or sale of such substances.
As part of the coordinated response, the CCPA convened a meeting with the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) officials to examine the existing regulatory framework, and shared the list of sellers — as provided by the e-commerce entities — with PESO for further action under applicable laws.
Following the intervention, several online platforms have begun removing, blocking, or delisting listings related to hazardous chemicals and explosive substances.
