CCPA warns e-commerce platforms over sale of hazardous chemicals
New Delhi, May 27
The Central Consumer Protection Authority has initiated regulatory action against several online platforms -- including IndiaMART, Justdial, Sigma-Aldrich India, Dial4Trade and ExportersIndia -- over the unauthorised sale and advertisement of hazardous chemicals and explosive substances, an official statement said on Wednesday.
The action was initiated following inputs regarding the online listing and sale of hazardous and regulated substances on digital platforms, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said.
The ministry said the substances identified include explosive precursors and hazardous chemicals that may pose serious risks to public safety and national security if sold without adequate safeguards and verification mechanisms.
The regulator has issued notices to the concerned e-commerce entities and online platforms seeking details regarding seller information, licensing compliance, buyer verification mechanisms, quantities sold, import details and applicable regulatory approvals.
During a preliminary examination, the authority observed that several hazardous chemicals and explosive substances being listed or advertised online are regulated, restricted, controlled or prohibited under various laws governing public safety and the handling of hazardous substances.
"The Authority has emphasised 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," the ministry said in a statement.
Among the hazardous substances under scrutiny are ammonium nitrate, gun powder, picric acid and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN).
The CCPA has also issued a total of eight notices to various entities in connection with comparable violations involving regulated and potentially dangerous substances.
The authority also convened a meeting with officials of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to review the existing regulatory framework governing hazardous and explosive substances.
In addition, the list of sellers operating on these platforms, as provided by the e-commerce entities, has been shared with PESO for necessary action under applicable laws and regulatory provisions.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honest question: While I support cracking down on unsafe stuff, the government needs to think about small businesses too. Indian small-scale chemical units depend on these platforms for their business. Instead of blanket warnings, they should work on making compliance easier and faster. Just issuing notices might kill livelihoods. Just saying. 🙏
This is exactly the kind of regulation India needs. In the US, we have the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) for stuff like this. Good to see India taking proactive steps. But enforcement will be key -- let's hope these notices lead to real change and not just paperwork.
I work in the chemical industry and let me tell you, this is long overdue. 🫡 I've seen small-time sellers on IndiaMART listing picric acid without even knowing it's a controlled substance. The platform due diligence has been very lax. CCPA doing good work here, but they should also check what's happening on social media where people seem to be selling anything.
As someone new to India, it's surprising that e-commerce platforms were even allowed to list chemicals like PETN and gunpowder without proper oversight. In the UK, you need special licenses even to own certain precursors. Glad to see the CCPA is serious about this -- public safety shouldn't depend on seller honesty alone.
This is a good move, but I have one concern: The same platforms that sell hazmat also sell lab equipment for genuine research and educational purposes. Need to ensure that legitimate users (like small colleges in tier-2 towns) aren't caught in the dragnet. A balanced approach with proper buyer verification and licensing would be ideal. Technical students also need
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