Explosive Regulations and the Industry

Licences and Certificates for Manufacturing

List of Forms

Licences for the manufacturing of explosives and explosive articles

Certificates for the manufacturing of explosives and explosive articles

Factory Licence

For manufacturing facilities for explosives. This facility can be a fixed site for the manufacture of blasting explosives, ammunition or fireworks, etc., or, in the case of bulk explosives, it can be the base of operations with the facilities necessary to clean, decontaminate and repair vehicles that support satellite sites, customer sites, and temporary factories from which trials and demonstrations may be conducted and where the manufacture of the product occurs.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) requires that the Explosives Regulatory Division (ERD) conduct an environmental assessment (EA) before a factory licence is issued (and in some cases amended) and prior to any irrevocable decision being made. The EA provides a systematic approach for identifying the environmental effects of proposed projects.

An EA is normally triggered for the following reasons:

  1. a new factory licence and some new magazine licences,
  2. an amendment to an existing licence and, in some cases, where the level of emissions or effluents is increased or where new emissions or effluents are to be expected, or
  3. a change of location.

Site Decommissioning – A licence will not be allowed to lapse until ERD is satisfied that remediation/decommissioning has been satisfactorily carried out. In the absence of stricter federal/provincial/territorial requirements, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment criteria will apply. For further information on environmental services contact canmet-erd@nrcan.gc.ca.

The Questionnaire Natural Resources Canada and the Explosives Act in the Context of Canadian Environmental Assessment Act assists project proponents in determining whether a licence under the Explosives Act is required and whether this triggers an EA under the CEAA.

When developing a site for the manufacture of explosives, you must follow guidelines cited in various standards developed by ERD. In the case of factories for the manufacture of ammunition, propellants, rockets, fireworks and packaged explosives, each has unique requirements and the factory fee structure is scaled differently than those fees for bulk explosive factories. Please contact canmet-erd@nrcan.gc.ca for the schedule of these fees.

In the case of bulk explosive facilities, the requirements may be found in the Guidelines for Bulk Explosive Facilities (PDF, 468 kb) (HTML). Appendix "D" sets out the minimum requirements for a base factory site along with various other categories of certificates and permissions for operations associated with bulk explosives. See the fee structure below.


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Temporary Factory Licence

Temporary factory sites are licensed factory sites that move with the construction of roads, hydro lines or pipelines, or are of short duration, such as some construction projects (e.g., air fields). Such sites must be supported by existing, licensed base factories equipped to properly service the process vehicles that would be located at the temporary site. A licence for a temporary factory is granted when the company has provided evidence that the site is truly temporary in nature. The licence will be renewed only for a maximum of two years. The fee structure for a temporary factory site is the same as for a factory site.

Licensing fees for blasting explosive factories are based on the number of process units, process vehicles, and the net weight of explosives stored at the site. The minimum fee is $3 000 and the maximum is $30 000.

For the necessary forms and guidelines used for these types of licences, visit our Forms page. Copies can also be obtained at canmet-erd@nrcan.gc.ca.

All fees are based on 12-month renewals. Electronic copies of noted forms are available and can be obtained by contacting an inspector.

Equipment Trial Permission

These are permissions to try out pieces of new equipment.

Note:

  • Trials will only be allowed from existing, licensed factories.
  • There are no fees.
  • There is no formal application process; however, a letter requesting approval is required.

Branch Factory Licence

These are factories that do not have a wash bay. They are of limited scope and must be a maximum of 250 km from a factory site. Refer to the Guidelines for other restrictions. The fee for this type of licence is the same as for a factory.

Satellite Site Certificate

These are considered to be extensions to a base factory, not replacements for one, and therefore do not carry all the privileges of a factory. The distance away from a base factory is limited to 800 km to ensure that a vehicle is no further away than a reasonable 10-hour drive. The distance to any customer from the satellite site is limited to 200 km. Refer to the Guidelines for other restrictions. The fee is $200 per month.

Demonstration Certificate

Demonstrations are trials at new customer locations with existing technology and products. These are allowed at satellite sites whose maximum duration is two months but where the distance requirement from a base site is waived. They have the same limitations as the satellite site except for those regarding distances.


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Mechanical Ammonium Nitrate & Fuel Oil (AN/FO) Certificate

Mechanical AN/FO Certificates are granted to companies producing AN/FO with powered equipment to be discharged directly into a borehole at a specified location, mine or quarry owned by the company to which the certificate is issued. The sale, storage or packaging of mixed product is not allowed. One process vehicle is permitted per certificate. The fee is $800.

Non-Mechanical Ammonium Nitrate & Fuel Oil (AN/FO) Certificate

Manual mixing of Ammonium Nitrate & Fuel Oil (AN/FO) for immediate use by the owner/operator of a quarry or mine site. The Non-Mechanical AN/FO Certificate is regulated under the "Ammonium Nitrate And Fuel Oil Order" within the Explosive Act and Regulations. The sale, storage or packaging of mixed product are not allowed. The fee is $75.

For the necessary forms and guidelines used for these types of licences, visit our Forms page. Copies can also be obtained at canmet-erd@nrcan.gc.ca.

Reloading Certificate

This certificate is for the establishment of procedures used in the custom loading or reloading of ammunition for sale to the public at a place other than a licensed factory.
The fee is $75.

For the necessary forms and guidelines used for these types of licences visit Forms page. Copies can also be obtained at canmet-erd@nrcan.gc.ca.