NOTE! Possession and sale of imported fireworks punishable

New Delhi, September 15: The possession and sale of fireworks of foreign origin is illegal and punishable under the Law says the Government. Fireworks have been declared as restricted item in respect of import by the Director General of Foreign Trade.

It said, till date, no license for import of fireworks has been granted under the explosives rules. The manufacture, possession, use and sale of any explosive containing sulphur or sulphurate in admixture with any chlorate are banned in the country.

Because fireworks have been categorised under restrictive items by the Director General of Foreign trade, the Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) has not granted licences to anyone to import them, not only from China but from other countries that manufacture as well (United States, Spain, Germany, to name a few).

Potassium chlorate the reason China’s firecrackers have encroached upon the Indian industry. This colour inducing chemical was largely used in India before the government banned it in 1992. Because, when mixed with Sulphur an important ingredient for manufacture, Potassium Chlorate becomes extremely reactive.

According to government data, in the year 2015-16, approximately 315 tonnes of firecrackers were seized. An industry executive alleged ports in Maharashtra and Gujarat were the primary entry points for illegal Chinese crackers into India.