The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has ordered the removal of nearly 3,940 sellers and product listings from seven online platforms following a crackdown on the unauthorised sale of ammonium nitrate and other regulated explosive substances, the consumer watchdog said on Monday.
The regulator issued show-cause notices to all seven platforms after detecting listings offering hazardous materials, including ammonium nitrate, gunpowder, picric acid and Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN), in violation of applicable regulations.
The platforms that came under scrutiny were IndiaMART, TradeIndia, Dial4Trade, Justdial, Sigma-Aldrich India, ExportersIndia and Ibuychemikals.
According to the CCPA, the seven platforms have furnished details confirming the removal of 3,940 sellers and listing entries following regulatory intervention.
๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐
The authority said it has so far passed final orders in three cases involving two platforms.
A penalty of Rs 10 lakh was imposed on Dial4Trade for facilitating the sale of ammonium nitrate, while ExportersIndia, operated by Weblink.In Pvt Ltd, was fined Rs 10 lakh for listings involving ammonium nitrate and PETN.
ExportersIndia was also subjected to a separate penalty of Rs 10 lakh for the sale of picric acid, taking the total penalties imposed across the three cases to Rs 30 lakh.
The regulator said these actions were aimed at strengthening consumer safety, public security and accountability in digital commerce.
๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ
The CCPA said investigations were continuing against three other platforms for allegedly listing, hosting, advertising or facilitating the sale of regulated explosive substances.
Sigma-Aldrich Chemicals Pvt Ltd is being investigated over online listings involving ammonium nitrate, PETN and picric acid.
TradeIndia, operated by Infocom Network Pvt Ltd, is under investigation for allegedly facilitating listings of picric acid and PETN.
Ibuychemikals is also facing scrutiny over the online listing and promotion of picric acid.
The regulator has not announced final penalties in these three matters, which remain under investigation.
๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฟ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐
The CCPA has initiated proceedings under the Consumer Protection Act and the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, alongside provisions of the Explosives Act, 1884, and the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012.
Under existing regulations, the unauthorised listing, advertising, hosting or facilitation of sales involving regulated explosive substances is prohibited on digital marketplaces.
Such materials are subject to licensing requirements because of the risks associated with their storage, handling, transportation and use.
"Their lawful sale and purchase require the prescribed license, and online platforms are expected to ensure that sellers' valid PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation) license details are disclosed and that the identity and licensed status of buyers are verified before a purchase," the CCPA said.
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ป๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐
The regulator emphasised that e-commerce platforms must exercise due diligence to prevent unauthorised sellers from offering hazardous and regulated substances through their services.
It said the latest enforcement measures were intended to ensure that digital marketplaces do not become channels for unlawful access to dangerous materials.
The CCPA maintained that its actions reinforced the government's commitment to consumer protection, public safety and responsible e-commerce practices, while ensuring compliance with laws governing the sale of explosive substances.