Consumer
Protection Body Moves against e-Commerce Platforms Allowing Explosive Raw
Material Trade
Ø
Notices issued
to major e-commerce platforms regarding listing and sale of regulated substances
including Ammonium Nitrate, PETN, Gun Powder and Picric Acid
Ø
Seller details
shared with Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO); platforms begin
removing and restricting listings following CCPA intervention
·
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)
has initiated action under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 against
unauthorized online sale and advertisement of hazardous chemicals and explosive
substances.
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The action targets online platforms including:
o
IndiaMART
o
Justdial
o
Sigma-Aldrich India
o
Dial4Trade
o
ExportersIndia
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The substances under scrutiny include:
o
Ammonium Nitrate
o
Gun Powder
o
Picric Acid
o
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN)
·
CCPA issued notices seeking details on:
o
Seller identities and licensing compliance
o
Buyer verification systems
o
Quantities sold
o
Import details
o
Regulatory approvals
·
The Authority observed that several listed
chemicals are regulated, restricted, controlled, or prohibited under public
safety laws.
·
CCPA directed online platforms and intermediaries
to exercise due diligence before allowing sale or advertisement of hazardous
substances.
·
A total of eight notices have been issued in
connection with similar violations involving dangerous and regulated
substances.
·
The CCPA held consultations with the Petroleum and
Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) regarding the regulatory framework for
hazardous materials.
·
Seller details collected from online platforms have
been shared with PESO for further action under applicable laws.
·
Following CCPA intervention, several platforms have
started removing, restricting, or delisting hazardous chemical listings.
·
The move aims to strengthen consumer safety, public
security, responsible e-commerce practices, and trust in digital marketplaces.
The Central Consumer
Protection Authority (CCPA), under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act,
2019, has initiated regulatory action against the unauthorized online sale and advertisement
of hazardous chemicals, explosive substances, and related precursors on digital
platforms. The action aims to strengthen consumer safety, public security, and
responsible e-commerce practices. The CCPA initiated action following inputs
regarding the online listing and sale of hazardous and regulated substances on platforms
including
·
IndiaMART,
·
Justdial,
·
Sigma-Aldrich India,
·
Dial4Trade
·
ExportersIndia.
The substances
identified include explosive precursors and hazardous chemicals which may pose serious
risks to public safety and national security if sold without proper safeguards and
verification mechanisms. Unauthorized online access to such hazardous substances
may expose consumers to serious safety risks and unlawful supply channels.
Notices Issued
to Online Platforms
The CCPA has issued
notices to concerned e-commerce entities and online platforms seeking details regarding:
·
Seller information and licensing compliance
·
Buyer verification mechanisms
·
Quantities sold
·
Import details
·
Applicable regulatory approvals
During the preliminary
examination, the CCPA observed that several hazardous chemicals and explosive substances
being listed or advertised online are regulated, restricted, controlled, or prohibited
under various laws and regulatory frameworks governing public safety and handling
of hazardous substances.
The Authority has
emphasized that online platforms and intermediaries must exercise due diligence
and ensure strict compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements
before permitting the listing, advertisement, or sale of such substances.
Hazardous Substances
Under Scrutiny
The notices relate
to the online sale, listing, advertisement, or facilitation of regulated and hazardous
products such as:
·
Ammonium Nitrate
·
Gun Powder
·
Picric Acid
·
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN)
In continuation
of its enforcement efforts, the CCPA has issued a total of eight notices to various
entities in connection with comparable violations involving regulated and potentially
dangerous substances.
Coordination with
PESO
As part of the
coordinated regulatory response, the CCPA also convened a meeting with officials
of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to examine the
existing regulatory framework governing hazardous and explosive substances.
The list of sellers
operating on these platforms, as provided by the e-commerce entities, has also been
shared with PESO for necessary action under applicable laws and regulatory provisions.
Platforms Begin
Delisting Hazardous Products
Following the intervention
and enforcement actions initiated by the CCPA, several online platforms and entities
have started removing, blocking, restricting, or delisting listings related to hazardous
chemicals and explosive substances.
The action reinforces
the Government’s commitment to ensuring that digital marketplaces do not facilitate
unauthorized access to regulated or dangerous substances in violation of
applicable laws and consumer safety standards.
The CCPA remains
committed to protecting consumer rights, ensuring safe digital marketplaces, preventing
unfair trade practices, and strengthening consumer trust in the rapidly evolving
e-commerce ecosystem.