3602 00 — Prepared explosives (excl. propellent powders)

3602 Explosive preparations other than powder

This heading covers mixtures of chemicals which undergo more intense reactions than those of gunpowder. When these products are burned, extremely large volumes of gases are formed at high temperatures, creating enormous pressure in a very short period of time. Phlegmatizing agents are often added to these products to reduce the sensitivity of the compositions to impact or friction. This heading includes: (1) Explosives consisting of mixtures based on glycerol nitrates (nitro-glycerin) and ethylene glycol (nitroglycol). These products are commonly called dynamites and often contain other substances such as nitrocellulose (nitrocell), ammonium nitrate, peat, wood flour, sodium chloride or granular aluminum. (2) Explosives consisting of mixtures of it based on other organic nitrates or nitro compounds, such as compositions based on TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene), hexogen, octogen, tetrile (N-methyl-N,2,4,6-tetranitroaniline), pentrite (pentaerythritrate tetranitrate, PETN) or TATB (1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene). Mixtures based on TNT include hexolites (TNT + hexogen) and pentolytes (TNT + PETN), pre-phlegmatized with either paraffin or polymeric binder. (3) Explosives consisting of mixtures based on ammonium nitrate activated by products other than glycerol nitrate or glycol. Together with the dynamites described in paragraph (1) above, they are widely used in mines, quarries and civil engineering. This category of explosives includes: (a) ammonals, amatoles and ammonium nitrate liquid fuel (ANZHT); (b) specially equipped nitrate explosives; (c) explosive suspensions consisting of a mixture of alkali metal nitrates and water activated with aminonitrate or finely crushed aluminum; (d) “emulsion” explosives consisting of an aqueous solution of alkali metal nitrates emulsified in mineral oil. (4) Explosives consisting of mixtures based on chlorates or perchlorates, such as sheddite used in mines or quarries. (5) Flagging or initiating mixtures which, dry, are more sensitive to impact and friction than explosives of the type mentioned in the preceding four paragraphs: they are mixtures based mainly on lead azide or trinithroresorcinate (or stifnate) of lead and tetrazene. These explosives are commonly used to make shock fuses, friction or flame fuses for propellant charges or detonators for explosives. All these explosives may be supplied in the form of powders, granules, pastes, suspensions, emulsions or as more or less dry gels, or unloaded, or as charges or cartridges. This heading does not cover individual compounds of a particular chemical composition, even if they are explosive. These chemicals are generally classified in Chapter 28 or 29, for example inorganic nitrates (heading 2834), mercury fulminate (heading 2852), trinitrotoluene (heading 2904), and

Trinitrophenol (heading 2908).

Notes

English text as published in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2021/1832 (Combined Nomenclature). The EAEU tariff and the EU nomenclature copy these notes from the same convention. For a Russian declaration the binding version is the Russian one: Annex to Decision No 80 of the EEC Council of 14 September 2021.

1. This chapter does not cover separate chemically defined compounds other than those described in note 2(a) or (b) below.

2. The expression ‘articles of combustible materials’ in heading 3606 applies only to:

(a) metaldehyde, hexamethylenetetramine and similar substances, put up in forms (for example, tablets, sticks or similar forms) for use as fuels; fuels with a basis of alcohol, and similar prepared fuels, in solid or semi-solid form;

(b) liquid or liquefied-gas fuels in containers of a kind used for filling or refilling cigarette or similar lighters and of a capacity not exceeding 300 cm3; and

(c) resin torches, firelighters and the like.