CCPA Cracks Down on Online Sale of Hazardous Chemicals, Explosive Substances

New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has initiated regulatory action against the online sale and advertisement of hazardous chemicals and explosive substances on digital platforms, raising concerns over public safety, consumer protection and national security.

Acting under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the authority issued notices to several e-commerce and online marketplace platforms, including IndiaMART, Justdial, Sigma-Aldrich India, Dial4Trade and ExportersIndia, regarding the listing and sale of regulated and potentially dangerous substances.

The substances under scrutiny include ammonium nitrate, gun powder, picric acid and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), all of which are governed by strict regulatory and safety frameworks due to their explosive or hazardous nature.

According to the CCPA, unauthorized online access to such substances could create serious risks by enabling unlawful supply channels and exposing consumers to unsafe handling of dangerous materials.

The authority has sought detailed information from the platforms regarding seller identities, licensing compliance, buyer verification mechanisms, quantities sold, import details and applicable regulatory approvals.

During the preliminary review, the CCPA observed that several hazardous chemicals and explosive precursors being advertised online fall under restricted, controlled or prohibited categories under existing public safety and hazardous substance regulations.

The authority stressed that online intermediaries and e-commerce platforms are required to exercise due diligence and ensure strict compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements before permitting the listing or sale of such products.

As part of the enforcement process, the CCPA also held discussions with the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to examine the regulatory framework governing hazardous and explosive materials.

Seller details collected from the online platforms have been shared with PESO for further action under relevant laws and regulatory provisions.

Following the regulatory intervention, several platforms have reportedly started removing, blocking, restricting or delisting hazardous chemical and explosive-related listings from their marketplaces.

Officials said the action reflects the government’s broader effort to ensure that digital commerce platforms do not facilitate unauthorized access to dangerous substances in violation of safety standards and consumer protection norms.

The CCPA said it remains committed to ensuring safe digital marketplaces, preventing unfair trade practices and strengthening consumer trust in India’s rapidly expanding e-commerce ecosystem.