Register of authorised explosives and categories of prohibited explosives in NSW

Register of authorised explosives

Section 8 of the Explosives Regulation 2024 makes it an offence to handle an explosive that is not an authorised explosive.

An explosive is authorised in NSW if it appears on the register of authorised explosives or it satisfies the criteria of a category of authorised explosives on this page.

1. Authorised Commonwealth explosives

The Directorate of Ordnance Safety (DOS) is the technical regulator of Explosive Ordnance storage and transport activities within the Australian Defence Organisation. An important activity of the DOS is the compilation of the Defence Explosive Ordnance Classification Listing (DEOCL).

Increasingly, civilian contractors handle defence ordnance and some of their activities come under the NSW explosives regulatory regime. This makes it necessary to formally recognise the contents of DEOCL as explosives authorised under NSW legislation.

Accordingly, the DEOCL as amended from time to time is recognised in NSW as forming part of the register of authorised explosives under the NSW Explosives Act.

2. Authorised display fireworks

Authorisation is granted to those explosives that are:

• Imported to Australia, and
• Intended for use by licensed professional pyrotechnicians in a fireworks display, and
• Classified by their manufacturer with UN number 0333, 0334, 0335, 0336, 0337 or 0431, and
• Classified in accordance with test criteria of the United Nations Model Regulations (UNMR) and the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria (UNMTC), or the Default Fireworks Classification Table in the UNMR, and
• Not prohibited fireworks according to Section 3.2 of this document.

Importers must provide evidence of the basis for the classification of a fireworks article upon request by SafeWork NSW.

3. Categories of prohibited explosives

The following categories of explosives are prohibited unless SafeWork NSW has granted specific authorisation under the Explosives Act.

3.1 Safety Cartridges

A safety cartridge or other munitions is prohibited where:

1. the bullet is not firmly fixed in the cartridge case
2. the bullet has a split or cracked case
3. the bullet has a case that is liable to split or rupture when fired in a properly constructed weapon of a chambering and calibre appropriate to a cartridge of its class
4. the bullet or other projectile explodes, or contains an incendiary or tracer composition, or contains a lachrymatory, nauseating or toxic substance

but does not include:


5. a safety cartridge in 3.1 (a), (b) and (c) held under a collector’s licence issued by the police if the cartridges are kept separate from cartridges for use or for supply
6. a safety cartridge for use by the Police Service, the Commonwealth or a State or Territory of the Commonwealth, or by the Armed Services
7. the import, with the approval in writing of the Regulatory Authority, of a safety cartridge having a bullet or other projectile that contains an incendiary or tracer composition
8. a safety cartridge having a bullet or other projectile approved in writing by the Regulatory Authority.

3.2 Fireworks

A firework is prohibited where the firework:

1. contains a composition of a chlorate in admixture with sulphur, a sulphide or phosphorus (other than amorces, a streamer cone or a confetti bomb)
2. is of such construction that firework composition can escape from it
3. on ignition may project through the air in an erratic or unpredictable flight
4. contains arsenic or a compound of arsenic as an ingredient of its composition
5. does not have displayed on it instructions in the English language relating to the manner in which it should be ignited and the manner in which it is designed to behave
6. ignites in less than three seconds, or more than 15 seconds, after its wick or touch paper has been ignited in accordance with the instructions displayed on it
7. after having been set up and ignited in accordance with the instructions displayed on it, behaves otherwise than in accordance with those instructions.
8. can be ignited or discharged by means other than the lighting of a wick, touch paper or by electric initiation, other than a distress signal, amorces, snaps for bon-bon crackers, streamer cones, model rocket propellant devices and confetti bombs
9. is a rocket other than a distress signal
10. is a trick firework
11. is a firecracker that can be initiated by striking on the side of a match-box
12. are aerial salutes larger than 75mm.

3.3 Distress Signals

A distress signal is prohibited if it does not comply with AS 2092 (Pyrotechnic marine distress flares and signals for pleasure craft) or an equivalent International Standards Organisation standard.

3.4 Model Rocket Propellant Devices

A model rocket propellant device is prohibited if it:

1. contains a composition of a chlorate in admixture with sulphur, a sulphide or phosphorus
2. is of such construction that ignitable substances can escape from it
3. may explode either wholly or in part
4. is used for a purpose other than that allowed for by a recognised model rocket club.

The use of model rocket propellant devices containing an ignitable substance or ignitable substances not exceeding 15 grams Net Explosive Quantity (NEQ) does not require a licence.

Model rocket propellant devices containing an ignitable substance or ignitable substances exceeding 15 grams NEQ but not exceeding 62.5 grams NEQ may only be used by a person who is a member of a recognised model rocket club.

Model rocket propellant devices containing an ignitable substance or ignitable substances exceeding 62.5 grams NEQ may only be used by a person who is a member of a recognised model rocket club and holds a pyrotechnician’s licence endorsed for the use of such devices.

3.5 Liquid Oxygen Explosive Mixtures

A liquid oxygen explosive mixture, which is a mixture of liquid oxygen and a carbonaceous material and is known as a liquid oxygen explosive, is prohibited unless the mixture is created for immediate use as an integral part of a manufacturing process and that process is approved in writing by SafeWork NSW.

3.6 Expired Explosives

Any explosive that has passed its manufacturer recommended expiry date is prohibited and shall not be handled other than with the written approval of SafeWork NSW.

An application form is available to request approval for disposal or ongoing use of expired explosives.

3.7 Unauthorised Explosives

Any explosive that does not appear on the list of authorised explosives is a prohibited explosive unless otherwise authorised by SafeWork NSW.

An application form is available to authorise an explosive in NSW.