Notice to Stakeholders

Explosives Regulatory Division

Notice to Stakeholders

Recently, concerns have been received in ERD over proposed changes to regulations under the Explosives Act relating to the handloading of ammunition. The proposals relating to ammunition were preliminary only and were released to start the consultation process.

There is no connection between these proposals and the firearms control program nor the recently passed anti-terrorism legislation, the Public Safety Act, 2002 (Bill C-7; formerly C-42.) The proposed regulations on handloading relate mainly to safety, not security.

The Explosives Act prohibits the manufacture of explosives (including ammunition) anywhere except in a licensed factory – unless exempted by regulations. In the past we have worked with the reloading community to put in place regulations to exempt handloaders from this prohibition. These regulations are being reviewed as part of a general update of all explosives regulations.

The regulatory process in Canada is an open one and we are looking for constructive feedback on these proposals. Consultation with stakeholders is a vital part of this process and all feedback will be taken into consideration. When all comments on these initial proposals have been received and analyzed, adjustments will be made where necessary and the next version will be circulated to stakeholder groups and posted on our web site for further consultation and feedback.

Due to the large volume of correspondence being received on this matter, responses to specific questions are not being provided at this time. We are currently collecting and categorizing all questions submitted. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page has been posted on our web site and will also be mailed on request to anyone who prefers a hard copy.

Summary of current ammunition and propellent regulations: Explosives Regulatory Division Bulletin No. 8

Should you have any questions, please contact us.

Thank you for taking the time to write and share your thoughts.


Last Modified: 2006-01-05	Important Notices