CCPA Removes 3,940 Online Listings Selling Explosive Chemicals
Image: Business Standard (file photo)
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has acted against seven online platforms for listing and helping sell regulated explosive substances without proper licence checks, and 3,940 seller listings have been removed. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs announced the action on Monday, October 19, and said two platforms have so far been fined.
Ammonium Nitrate, PETN and Picric Acid on Sale
The substances included ammonium nitrate, gunpowder, picric acid and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). Their sale needs a valid licence under the Explosives Act, 1884, and the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012. The CCPA said platforms must display sellers’ licence details from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and check buyers’ identity and licences before any sale.
The largest number of listings was on IndiaMART, with 3,092 sellers, followed by ExportersIndia (421), Justdial (206), TradeIndia (210 listings) and Dial4Trade (11). Sigma-Aldrich Chemicals and IBuyChemicals, which sell only their own products, were also covered.
Rs 10 Lakh Penalties for Two Platforms
Dial4Trade was fined Rs 10 lakh over ammonium nitrate listings and told to stop such sales. Its appeal was dismissed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) after hearings on October 9. ExportersIndia, run by Weblink.in, faces two penalties of Rs 10 lakh each and has appealed to the NCDRC.
The CCPA treated the listings as misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and the E-Commerce Rules, 2020.
IndiaMART and Justdial Cases Still Pending
IndiaMART has challenged the show-cause notices in the Delhi High Court. Justdial’s final hearing before the CCPA is on October 23, the ministry said, after it sought adjournments four times. Cases against Sigma-Aldrich, TradeIndia and IBuyChemicals are still under investigation.
The ministry said the action is aimed at consumer safety, public safety and responsible e-commerce.
People can report any online sale of explosives on the National Consumer Helpline, 1915. For background on the law, see our explainer on the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and more on our Daily Updates page.
Based on reporting by PIB (Ministry of Consumer Affairs) and Business Standard.
Image: Business Standard (file photo).
