The meaning of “explosive” and associated terms are listed under section 4 of the GEWCA will include —
|
Category |
Items Included |
|
Ammunition |
• Cartridges with live primers and projectiles • Cartridges with live primers, propelling charge, and projectiles (e.g., nail gun cartridges) • Live primers, propellants, or blank cartridges • Other objects suitable for use as ammunition in guns (if prescribed) |
|
Explosive Substances |
• Gunpowder • Nitro-glycerine • Dynamite • Gun-cotton • Blasting powder • Fulminate of mercury or other metals • Coloured fires • Substances manufactured for explosion or pyrotechnic effects • Phlegmatised substances with explosive properties |
|
Explosive Devices |
• Bombs • Grenades • Mines • Fog signals • Distress signals • Fuses • Detonators • Blasting caps • Percussion caps |
|
Fireworks |
• Articles containing explosives designed for entertainment producing:- Light- Sound- Gas- Smoke • Rocket fireworks |
|
High Explosives |
• Cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX) • Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) • Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) |
|
Plastic Explosives |
• Explosives formulated with high explosives and binder material • Malleable or flexible at room temperature |
|
Other Categories |
• Sand crackers • Distress signals (including marine flares, landing flares, highway flares) • Prohibited explosives (as prescribed by the Minister) • Unmarked plastic explosives |
List of Common Desensitised Explosives
| UN Number | Desensitised Explosives | HS Code | Product Code |
| UN3317 | 2-AMINO-4,6-DINITROPHENOL, WETTED with not less than 20% water, by mass | 29222900 | ANEXDE010C |
| UN1310 | Ammonium picrate, wetted with not less than 10 percent water, by mass | 29089900 | ANEXDE007F |
| UN1571 | BARIUM AZIDE, WETTED with not less than 50% water, by mass | 28500000 | ANEXDE002 |
| UN1320 | Dinitrophenol, wetted with not less than 15 percent water, by mass | 29089900 | ANEXDE007A |
| UN1321 | Dinitrophenolates, wetted with not less than 15 percent water, by mass | 29089900 | ANEXDE007B |
| UN1322 | Dinitroresorcinol, wetted with not less than 15 percent water, by mass | 29089900 | ANEXDE007C |
| UN2852 | DIPICRYL SULPHIDE, WETTED with not less than 10% water, by mass | 29319090 | ANEXDE014 |
| UN2555 | NITROCELLULOSE WITH WATER (not less than 25% water, by mass) | 39122011 | ANEXDE018A |
| UN2555 | Nitrocellulose with water (non-plasticised) | 39122011 | ANEXDE018A |
| UN2555 | Nitrocellulose with water (plasticised) | 39122020 | ANEXDE020B |
| UN3319 | NITROGLYCERIN MIXTURE, DESENSITIZED, SOLID, N.O.S. with more than 2% but not more than 10% nitroglycerin, by mass | 29209000 | ANEXDE009A |
| UN1336 | Nitroguanidine, wetted or Picrite, wetted with not less than 20 percent water, by mass | 29299090 | ANEXDE013 |
| UN1337 | Nitrostarch, wetted with not less than 20 percent water, by mass | 35051090 | ANEXDE016 |
| UN1347 | Silver picrate, wetted with not less than 30 percent water, by mass | 28432900 | ANEXDE001 |
| UN1348 | Sodium dinitro-o-cresolate, wetted with not less than 15 percent water, by mass | 29089200 | ANEXDE006B |
| UN1349 | Sodium picramate, wetted with not less than 20 percent water, by mass | 29222900 | ANEXDE010A |
| UN1354 | Trinitrobenzene, wetted with not less than 30 percent water, by mass | 29042090 | ANEXDE004B |
| UN1355 | Trinitrobenzoic acid, wetted with not less than 30 percent water, by mass | 29163990 | ANEXDE008B |
| UN1344 | Trinitrophenol, wetted with not less than 30 percent water, by mass | 29089900 | ANEXDE007D |
| UN1356 | Trinitrotoluene wetted with not less than 30 percent water, by mass | 29042010 | ANEXDE003B |
| UN1357 | Urea nitrate, wetted with not less than 20 percent water, by mass | 29241990 | ANEXDE011A |
| UN3357 | NITROGLYCERIN MIXTURE, DESENSITIZED, LIQUID, N.O.S. with not more than 30% nitroglycerin, by mass | 29209000 | ANEXDE009B |
| UN3064 | NITROGLYCERIN, SOLUTION IN ALCOHOL with more than 1% but not more than 5% nitroglycerin | 29209000 | ANEXDE009C |
| UN1204 | Nitroglycerin,solution in alcohol , with not more than 1 percent nitroglycerin | 29209000 | ANEXDE009D |
| UN1517 | ZIRCONIUM PICRAMATE, WETTED with not less than 20% water, by mass | 29222900 | ANEXDE010B |
| UN3474 | 1-HYDROXYBENZOTRIAZOLE MONOHYDRATE | 29339990 | ANEXDE015 |
| UN3376 | 4-NITROPHENYL-HYDRAZINE, with not less than 30% water, by mass | 29280090 | ANEXDE012 |
| UN3379 | DESENSITIZED EXPLOSIVE, LIQUID, N.O.S. | 36020000 | ANEXDE017C |
| UN3380 | DESENSITIZED EXPLOSIVE, SOLID, N.O.S. | 36020000 | ANEXDE017D |
| UN2059 | NITROCELLULOSE SOLUTION, FLAMMABLE with not more than 12.6% nitrogen, by dry mass, and not more than 55% nitrocellulose | 39122011 | ANEXDE018B |
| UN2556 | NITROCELLULOSE WITH ALCOHOL (not less than 25% alcohol, by mass, and not more than 12.6% nitrogen, by dry mass) | 39122012 | ANEXDE019A |
| UN2557 | NITROCELLULOSE, with not more than 12.6% nitrogen, by dry mass, MIXTURE WITH PLASTICIZER, WITH PIGMENT | 39122020 | ANEXDE020A |
| UN3343 | NITROGLYCERIN MIXTURE, DESENSITIZED, LIQUID, FLAMMABLE, N.O.S. with not more than 30% nitroglycerin, by mass | 29209000 | ANEXDE009B |
| UN3344 | PENTAERYTHRITE TETRANITRATE MIXTURE, DESENSITIZED, SOLID, N.O.S. with more than 10% but not more than 20% PETN, by mass | 36020000 | ANEXDE017B |
| UN3369 | SODIUM DINITRO-o-CRESOLATE, WETTED with not less than 10% water, by mass | 29089200 | ANEXDE006A |
| UN3367 | TRINITROBENZENE, WETTED with not less than 10% water, by mass | 29042090 | ANEXDE004A |
| UN3368 | TRINITROBENZOIC ACID, WETTED with not less than 10% water, by mass | 29163990 | ANEXDE008A |
| UN3365 | TRINITROCHLOROBENZENE WETTED with not less than 10% water, by mass | 29049900 | ANEXDE005 |
| UN3364 | TRINITROPHENOL WETTED with not less than 10% water, by mass | 29089900 | ANEXDE007E |
| UN3366 | TRINITROTOLUENE, WETTED with not less than 10% water, by mass | 29042010 | ANEXDE003A |
| UN3370 | UREA NITRATE, WETTED with not less than 10% water, by mass | 29241990 | ANEXDE011B |
For more information on the other Licence Matters under the GEW Regulatory Regime, please visit the following:
- Information on Gun Licence Matters
- Information on Explosive Precursor Licence Matters
- Information on Weapon and Noxious Substance Licence Matters
For overview of all matters concerning Gun, Explosive and Weapon Licences, please visit Overview of Gun, Explosive and Weapon Licence.
Apply
To apply for the Licence, you will need to visit GoBusiness webpage, which will require you to sign in using your Individual SingPass or Company SingPass.
The process may take about 15-20 minutes to complete.
Processing Time
About 3 weeks from the receipt of the application, processing fee and the necessary supporting documents, if required. Any incomplete or incorrect submission will be rejected.
You will be notified of the outcome via email. Alternatively, you can login to GoBusiness to view your application status.
| Explosive Licence Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Possession | Authorises possession and use of specified explosives. Limited to entities with legitimate needs. |
| Transport | Permits movement of explosives between approved locations. Only for licensed entities or authorised transportation companies with specially equipped vehicles. |
| Storage | Authorises storage at approved magazines/premises with strict security measures and quantity limits. |
| Supply | Permits sale/distribution to licensed entities. Only for approved suppliers with proper security measures. |
| Manufacture | Allows production of explosives. Highly restricted - only for approved manufacturers with comprehensive safety protocols. |
| Dispose | Permits disposal through approved methods. Limited to qualified entities with proper disposal facilities. |
| Repair | Authorises repair and maintenance of explosive devices. Limited to qualified entities with technical expertise in explosive devices. |
| Use (Rock Blasting) | Permits use of explosives specifically for rock blasting operations. Limited to qualified shot firers and companies with expertise in demolition/mining operations. |
| Use (Fireworks) | Authorises the display/use of fireworks for events. Limited to licensed pyrotechnicians and companies with expertise in fireworks displays. |
Relevant Regulations:
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Explosives and Explosive Precursors) Regulations 2025
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Transporting Lower-risk Explosives — Class Licence) Order 2025
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Dealing in Certain Lower-risk Explosives — Class Licence) Order 2025
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Explosives — Exemption) Order 2025
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Maritime Industry — Exemption) Order 2025
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Theatrical Use — Class Licence) Order 2025
GEWCA EXPLOSIVE Licence Fees
The full list of Licence Fees related to Explosives is under the Fee Schedule of the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Explosives and Explosive Precursors) Regulations 2025
Please click here to download the Full List of Licence Fees, extracted from the GEWCA Regulations
GEWCA Licence Fees For Explosive
|
Activity |
New Fee under GEWCA / 3 years |
Bundled Licence Fee under GEWCA /3 years |
|||||||
|
Transport |
$300 |
$1,370 |
$1,620 |
$1,880 |
$2,430 |
||||
|
Possession / Use |
$300 |
$1,280 |
$1,370 |
$1,640 |
$2,180 |
||||
|
Store |
$1,120 |
||||||||
|
Supply |
$580 |
Not Applicable |
|||||||
|
Dispose |
$830 |
Not Applicable |
|||||||
|
Repair |
$580 |
||||||||
|
Manufacture |
$1,120 |
Not Applicable |
|||||||
Non-Renewable Licences
|
Activity |
Licence Fee |
|
Licence to Import or Export |
$40 per relevant consignment to be imported or exported under the licence |
|
Gun transport licence (non-renewable) to convey any relevant consignment |
$40 per relevant consignment to be conveyed under the licence |
Visit Overview of Gun Explosive and Weapon Licence to access information on the overview of Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control regulatory regime and useful downloads.