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The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Wednesday said that it has initiated regulatory action against unauthorised online listing, advertisement, and sale of hazardous chemicals and explosive substances on digital platforms. It said it has issued eight notices to e-commerce entities in this regard.

The action was initiated following inputs regarding the online listing and sale of regulated substances on platforms, including IndiaMART, Justdial, Sigma-Aldrich India, Dial4Trade, and ExportersIndia. The notices sought details on seller information and licensing compliance, buyer verification mechanisms, quantities sold, import details, and applicable regulatory approvals.

Substances flagged include ammonium nitrate, gunpowder, picric acid, and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) – all of which are regulated, restricted, or prohibited under various laws governing public safety and hazardous substance handling.

“Unauthorised online access to such hazardous substances may expose consumers to serious safety risks and unlawful supply channels,” the authority said in a statement.

During its preliminary examination, the CCPA observed that several of these substances were being listed or advertised without the requisite safeguards or verification mechanisms, potentially posing risks to public safety and national security.

Following the intervention, several online platforms have begun removing, blocking, or delisting listings related to hazardous chemicals and explosive substances, the official statement added.

CCPA said it also held 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,” it added.

Published on May 27, 2026