New Delhi, 19 October (H.S.): Seven e-commerce and online platforms have removed 3,940 sellers involved in the illegal sale of explosives, including firecrackers and fireworks, following strict action by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA). The regulator has also imposed fines of up to Rs 10 lakh in certain cases for violations of applicable rules.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said approximately 3,940 sellers involved in the unauthorised online sale of ammonium nitrate and other explosive substances had been removed from the seven platforms following the CCPA’s intervention. The action was taken to safeguard consumers and curb the online sale of firecrackers without the requisite licences.

The ministry said the CCPA had intensified its enforcement measures against regulatory violations and issued show-cause notices to all seven platforms. Penalties have also been imposed on some of the companies. The platforms under scrutiny include IndiaMART, TradeIndia, Dial4Trade, Justdial, Sigma-Aldrich India, ExportsIndia and iBuyChemicals.

The CCPA said the action was aimed at strengthening consumer safety, public security and responsible e-commerce practices. According to the regulator, sellers on these platforms were found to be illegally offering explosive substances, including ammonium nitrate, gunpowder, picric acid and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), for sale.

The authority said the platforms had provided details confirming the removal of 3,940 sellers and product listings in response to the identified violations. Regarding enforcement proceedings against the online platforms, the regulator said it had so far issued final orders in three cases involving two platforms.

Dial4Trade has been fined Rs 10 lakh for the sale of ammonium nitrate. ExportsIndia, operated by Weblink.in Private Limited, has also been fined Rs 10 lakh for the sale of ammonium nitrate and PETN. In a separate case involving the sale of picric acid, ExportsIndia has been fined an additional Rs 10 lakh. The CCPA said investigations into three other cases were ongoing.

The regulator is investigating Sigma-Aldrich Chemicals Private Limited over the online listing, availability, advertisement and facilitation of sales of ammonium nitrate, PETN and picric acid.

TradeIndia, operated by Infocom Network Private Limited, is also under investigation for allegedly listing, making available, advertising and facilitating the sale of picric acid and PETN online. Similarly, an investigation into iBuyChemicals is underway over the online listing, availability, advertisement and facilitation of sales of picric acid.

The ministry said the regulator had initiated action under the Consumer Protection Act, the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, the Explosives Act and the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012.

Under the existing legal framework, digital platforms are prohibited from unauthorisedly listing, making available, advertising or facilitating the sale of regulated and hazardous explosive substances.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar