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Core Purpose

This notification introduces the Ammonium Nitrate (Amendment) Rules, 2025, to further amend the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012, by modifying definitions and revising the fee structure for licenses and approvals related to Ammonium Nitrate.

Detailed Summary

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, issued notification G.S.R. 377(E) on June 9, 2025, to amend the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012. These amendments, titled the Ammonium Nitrate (Amendment) Rules, 2025, come into force upon their publication in the Official Gazette. The rules were formulated under the powers conferred by sections 5 and 7 read with section 14 of the Explosives Act, 1884 (4 of 1884), following a draft published on December 16, 2024, as G.S.R. 768 (E), for which no objections or suggestions were received. The amendments primarily modify rule 2 and rule 29 of the principal rules. In rule 2, new clauses are inserted: (na) defines 'Micro and Small Enterprises' referring to section 2(h) and 2(m) of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006; (t) defines 'startup' as an entity registered with DPIIT and as defined in Paragraph 1 of Notification G.S.R. 127(E) dated February 19, 2019; and (u) defines 'women entrepreneur' as an enterprise owned and controlled by a woman with a minimum 26 percent financial interest. Rule 29(1) is substituted with a revised fee schedule for prior approval, issuance, and amendment of licenses related to Ammonium Nitrate. For general applicants, scrutiny fee is Rs. 1000; manufacture/possession for sale/conversion is Rs. 20,000/year; possession for sale from store house is Rs. 2,000/year; possession for use from store house is Rs. 1,000/year; import/export is Rs. 5,000; bagging and storage is Rs. 20,000/year; transport is Rs. 2,000/year; and amendment of licence is Rs. 1,000. Reduced fees apply for Micro and Small Enterprises and startups (50% of general fees) and for women entrepreneurs (20% of general fees). Sub-rule (1A) mandates specific documentary evidence for these relaxations: a certificate from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for Micro and Small Enterprises (excluding Medium Enterprises); documentary evidence of registration with DPIIT for startups; and documentary evidence of proprietorship or directorship for women entrepreneurs. Sub-rule (1B) states that the lower fee between Micro and Small Enterprises/Startup and women entrepreneur categories shall apply if an enterprise qualifies for both, and any false or misleading information will lead to cancellation of approval or license. The principal Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012, were originally published via G.S.R. 553(E) dated July 11, 2012, and previously amended by G.S.R. 469(E) dated July 9, 2013, G.S.R. 938(E) dated September 27, 2018, G.S.R. 608(E) dated August 31, 2021, and G.S.R. 239 (E) dated April 17, 2025.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-10062025-263694 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 334] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2025/JYAISTHA 19, 1947 MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 9th June, 2025 G.S.R.. 377(E).—Whereas the draft of certain rules further to amend the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012, were published, vide notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) number G.S.R. 768 (E), dated the 16th December, 2024, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), inviting objections and suggestions from all persons likely to be affected thereby before the expiry of a period of thirty days from the date on which the copies of the Gazette containing the said notification were made available to the public; And whereas the copies of the said Gazette notification were made available to the public on the 16th December, 2024; And whereas no objection or suggestions received from the public within the said period; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 5 and 7 read with section 14 of the Explosives Act, 1884 (4 of 1884), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012, namely:- 1. Short titled and commencement.- (1) Theserules may be called the Ammonium Nitrate (Amendment) Rules, 2025. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), in rule 2,- (a) after clause (n), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:- '(na) “Micro and Small Enterprises”means an enterprise defined in clause (h) and clause (m) of section 2 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006;'; (b) after clause (s), the following clauses shall be inserted,namely:- (t) “startup” means an entity registered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and as defined in clause (a) of Paragraph 1 of the Notification number G.S.R. 127(E), dated the19th February, 2019, and as amended from time to time. ‘(u) “women entrepreneur” meansan enterprise owned and controlled by a woman having a minimum financial interest of 26 percent of the capital.'. 3. In rule 29 of the said rules, for sub-rule (1) the following sub-rules shall be substituted, namely:- "(1) The following fee shall be payable for prior approval, issuance of licences and amendment, namely:- +-----+-------------------------------------------------------------+------------+------------------------------+------------------------------+ | Sl. | Type of Fee | Fees | Fees for micro and | Fees for women | | No. | | (in Rs.) | small enterprises | entrepreneur | | | | | and startups | (in Rs.) | | | | | (in Rs.) | | +=====+=============================================================+============+==============================+==============================+ | (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | +-----+-------------------------------------------------------------+------------+------------------------------+------------------------------+ | (a) | Scrutiny fee for prior approval | 1000 | 500 | 200 | +-----+-------------------------------------------------------------+------------+------------------------------+------------------------------+ | (b) | Licence to manufacture and possess for sale | 20000/Year | 10000 / Year | 4000/Year | | | Ammonium Nitrate or convert melt to solid and vice | | | | | | versa andpossess for sale [of Ammonium Nitrate] | | | | +-----+-------------------------------------------------------------+------------+------------------------------+------------------------------+ | (c) | Licence to Possess for sale ofAmmonium Nitrate from a | 2000/Year | 1000 / Year | 400/Year | | | store house [or Ammonium Nitrate melt in tank] | | | | +-----+-------------------------------------------------------------+------------+------------------------------+------------------------------+ | (d) | Licence to Possess for use of Ammonium Nitrate from | 1000/Year | 500 / Year | 200/Year | | | a store house [or Ammonium Nitrate melt in tank] | | | | +-----+-------------------------------------------------------------+------------+------------------------------+------------------------------+ | (e) | Licence to Import Ammonium Nitrate | 5000 | 2500 | 1000 | +-----+-------------------------------------------------------------+------------+------------------------------+------------------------------+ | (f) | Licence to Export Ammonium Nitrate | 5000 | 2500 | 1000 | +-----+-------------------------------------------------------------+------------+------------------------------+------------------------------+ | (g) | Licence to bag and store Ammonium Nitrate | 20,000/Year| 10,000 / Year | 4000/Year | +-----+-------------------------------------------------------------+------------+------------------------------+------------------------------+ | (h) | Licence to Transport Ammonium Nitrate | 2000/Year | 1000 / Year | 400/Year | +-----+-------------------------------------------------------------+------------+------------------------------+------------------------------+ | (i) | Amendment oflicence | 1000 | 500 | 200 | +-----+-------------------------------------------------------------+------------+------------------------------+------------------------------+ (1A) The fee under sub-rule (1), shall apply only on the furnishing of the following document, namely:- (a) Micro and Small Enterprises - Certificate issued by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises: Provided that, above said relaxation shall only be applicable to Micro and Small Enterprises and not for Medium Enterprises. (b) Micro and Small Startup- Documentary evidence towards registration with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry: (c) Women Entrepreneur - Documentary evidence towards Proprietor or Director of the firm or company. (1B) Where Micro and Small Enterprises or Startup is owned and controlled by a woman, the fees whichever is lower shall be applicable: Provided that if information submitted by the applicant, is found to be false or misleading at any stage, the approval or license shall be liable to be cancelled.”. [F. No. P-13033/92/2023-EXPLOSIVE] Dr. SANDHYA BHULLAR, Jt.Secy. Note.- The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub- section (i) vide notification G.S.R. 553(E), dated the 11th July, 2012 and subsequently amended vide G.S.R. 469(E), dated the 9th July, 2013, G.S.R. 938(E), dated the 27th September, 2018 and G.S.R. 608(E), dated the 31st August, 2021 and G.S.R. 239 (E), dated 17th April, 2025.

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