Stakeholders raise concerns: Govt to regulate fertiliser under Explosives Rules, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The government’s decision to classify fertiliser as an explosive precursor effective from the second week of next month, has raised concerns among stakeholders that the move could have far-reaching implications for the agriculture sector and may ultimately burden farmers.

According to an official notification issued on August 7, 2026, 23 substances have been declared explosive precursors. These include Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN), Ammonium Nitrate, Potassium Nitrate, Magnesium Nitrate, Silver Nitrate, Sodium Nitrate, Potassium Chlorate, Potassium Perchlorate, Aluminium powders (paste/flake), Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), Hexamine, Sodium Chlorate, Sodium Perchlorate, Urea, Acetone, Sulphuric Acid, Nitric Acid, Hydrochloric Acid, Hydrogen Peroxide, Sulphur, Potassium Bromate, Nitromethane and Hexahydrate.

The notification states that the substances shall be regulated in accordance with the Explosives Rules, 2010, and shall not be manufactured, imported, exported, possessed, stored, transported, sold, supplied, used, transferred or otherwise made available except in accordance with the Explosives Act, 1884, the Explosives Rules, 2010, and any licence, permit or authorisation issued thereunder.

Manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors, dealers and other persons dealing in the listed substances will be required to exercise enhanced due diligence and maintain records as prescribed under the Explosives Rules, 2010 or by the licensing authority.

The notification further requires any suspicious, unusual or large transaction, or any significant theft, loss or unexplained disappearance of the listed substances, to be reported to the licensing authority or any other authority notified by the federal government within 24 hours of detection.

The notification will come into force on expiry of 30 days from the date of its issuance.

Stakeholders said the additional regulatory, licensing, compliance, storage, transportation and security requirements arising from the classification could impose significant financial and administrative costs on the fertiliser supply chain. These costs, they apprehended, could eventually be passed on to farmers in the form of higher input prices.

They also expressed concern over the possible implications for farmers who routinely purchase and store fertiliser, particularly urea and other nitrogenous fertilisers, at their farms for use during the cropping season.

“If possession or storage of fertiliser becomes subject to licensing, prescribed storage standards or scrutiny by law-enforcement agencies, ordinary farmers could inadvertently find themselves exposed to questioning, inspections or even legal action merely for possessing fertiliser for legitimate agricultural purposes,” a stakeholder said.

According to stakeholders, such uncertainty could discourage farmers from maintaining adequate fertiliser stocks and potentially disrupt timely application during critical stages of crop production. This, in turn, could affect crop yields and pose risks to national food security.

“The government’s objective of preventing the misuse of fertiliser by criminal elements is fully understandable. However, measures intended to address a specific security threat should be carefully designed so that legitimate farmers are not treated as potential offenders and the normal agricultural use, possession and storage of fertiliser is not unnecessarily criminalised or burdened with licensing requirements,” the stakeholder added.

Separately, on July 31, 2026, the National Forensic Agency (NFA), in a letter to the Ministry of Energy, stated that, in order to strengthen the regulatory framework governing explosive precursor chemicals and mitigate the risk of their diversion for unlawful purposes, such substances are required to be classified into Prohibited and Protected categories according to their risk profiles.

The accompanying annexures prescribe monitoring, control and reporting requirements aimed at enhancing public safety and national security. The Prohibited Explosive Precursors List identifies substances that shall not be made available to, introduced, possessed or used by the general public. Where legitimate use is permitted under law, transactions involving such substances will be subject to NADRA biometric verification.

The NFA further stated that any significant disappearance or theft involving substances listed in Annexure-I must be reported within 24 hours.

Protected Explosive Precursors, identifies substances requiring continuous monitoring to prevent their diversion for illicit purposes. Suspected large or unusual transactions, as well as significant disappearances or thefts, are also required to be reported to the competent authority within 24 hours.

The measures, according to the NFA, are intended to strengthen oversight, enhance traceability and mitigate the risk of misuse of explosive precursor chemicals.

However, stakeholders have urged the government to ensure that implementation of the new regulatory regime distinguishes clearly between commercial handlers and legitimate agricultural users, particularly small farmers, so that security measures do not inadvertently disrupt fertiliser availability or increase the cost of agricultural production.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026