Explosives Regulations, 2013 (SOR/2013-211)

Marginal note:Quantity of cartridges, powder or cartouches

269 A reference in this Part to the mass of a small arms cartridge, propellant powder or a black powder cartouche is a reference to its net quantity (the mass of the explosive excluding the mass of any packaging, container, shell casing or projectile).

DIVISION 1Small Arms Cartridges

Marginal note:Definitions

270 The following definitions apply in this Division.

distributor

distributor means a person who sells small arms cartridges to other distributors or to retailers, whether or not they sell to users. (distributeur)

licence

licence means a licence that authorizes the storage of small arms cartridges. (licence)

retailer

retailer means a person, other than a distributor, who sells small arms cartridges. (détaillant)

seller

seller means a distributor or a retailer. (vendeur)

user

user means a person who acquires small arms cartridges for use. (utilisateur)

Rules for Sellers

Acquisition for Sale

Marginal note:Distributor

• 271 (1) A distributor may acquire, store and sell small arms cartridges if they hold a licence. A distributor who acquires small arms cartridges must comply with this Division.

• Marginal note:Retailer

  (2) A retailer may acquire, store and sell small arms cartridges, whether or not they hold a licence. A retailer who acquires small arms cartridges must comply with this Division.

Storage

Marginal note:Licensed seller

• 272 (1) A seller who holds a licence must store their small arms cartridges in the magazine specified in their licence.

• Marginal note:Unlicensed retailer

  (2) A retailer who does not hold a licence must store their small arms cartridges in a sales establishment and must ensure that the requirements of sections 273 to 275 are met.

Marginal note:Attendance

• 273 (1) When a sales establishment is unlocked, small arms cartridges that are displayed for sale must be attended, kept behind a sales counter or locked up (for example, in a cabinet).

• Marginal note:Access

  (2) Only people authorized by the retailer may have access to the area behind a sales counter.

Marginal note:Maximum quantity

• 274 (1) No more than 225 kg of small arms cartridges may be stored in a sales establishment at any one time, including cartridges that are displayed for sale.

• Marginal note:Place of storage

  (2) Small arms cartridges that are not displayed for sale must be stored in a dwelling or a storage unit.

Marginal note:Storage requirements — dwelling

• 275 (1) When small arms cartridges are stored in a dwelling, they must be stored away from flammable substances and sources of ignition. People not authorized by the retailer must not be given unlimited access to the cartridges.

• Marginal note:Storage requirements — storage unit

  (2) When small arms cartridges are stored in a storage unit,

  • (a) the storage unit must be located away from flammable substances and sources of ignition;

  • (b) the interior of the storage unit must be kept clean and dry;

  • (c) the storage unit must be constructed and maintained to prevent unauthorized access and to protect the contents from weather;

  • (d) the storage unit must be attended when it is unlocked;

  • (e) if the storage unit is a container, it must not impede exit in case of fire;

  • (f) if the storage unit is not a container, all exits must be kept unobstructed;

  • (g) any shelving in the storage unit must be made from a non-sparking material (for example, wood or painted metal);

  • (h) if propellant powder, percussion caps, blank cartridges for tools, unmixed reactive targets or black powder cartouches are stored with small arms cartridges in the storage unit, they must be stored separately from one another (for example, on different shelves or separated by a wooden barrier);

  • (i) precautions that minimize the likelihood of an ignition or fire in or near the storage unit must be taken; and

  • (j) a sign that displays the words “Danger — Fire Hazard/Risque d’incendie” in letters at least 10 cm high and that prohibits smoking using letters, or a symbol, at least 10 cm high must be posted on the storage unit in a clearly visible location.

  • (k) [Repealed, SOR/2024-77, s. 79]

  • (l) [Repealed, SOR/2024-77, s. 79]

Sale

Marginal note:Maximum quantity — licensed buyer

• 276 (1) A seller must not sell more small arms cartridges to a licensed buyer than the buyer is authorized by their licence to store.

• Marginal note:Maximum quantity — unlicensed buyer

  (2) A seller must not sell more small arms cartridges to an unlicensed buyer than the buyer is authorized by this Division to store.

Marginal note:Retailer

277 A retailer may sell small arms cartridges only to a user.

Rules for Users

Marginal note:Acquisition

278 A user may acquire and store small arms cartridges, whether or not they hold a licence. A user who acquires small arms cartridges must comply with this Division.

Marginal note:Storage — licensed user

• 279 (1) A user who holds a licence must store their small arms cartridges in the magazine specified in their licence.

• Marginal note:Storage — unlicensed user

  (2) A user who does not hold a licence must store their small arms cartridges, including any small arms cartridges manufactured by the user under Division 2, in a dwelling or a storage unit and ensure that the requirements of sections 280 and 281 are met.

Marginal note:Maximum quantity

280 No more than 225 kg of small arms cartridges may be stored at any one time.

Marginal note:Storage requirements — dwelling

• 281 (1) When small arms cartridges are stored in a dwelling, they must be stored away from flammable substances and sources of ignition. People not authorized by the user must not be given unlimited access to the cartridges.

• Marginal note:Storage requirements — storage unit

  (2) When small arms cartridges are stored in a storage unit,

  • (a) the storage unit must be located away from flammable substances and sources of ignition;

  • (b) the interior of the storage unit must be kept clean and dry;

  • (c) the storage unit must be constructed and maintained to prevent unauthorized access and to protect the contents from weather;

  • (d) the storage unit must be attended when it is unlocked;

  • (e) if the storage unit is a container, it must not impede exit in case of fire;

  • (f) if the storage unit is not a container, all exits must be kept unobstructed;

  • (g) any shelving in the storage unit must be made from a non-sparking material (for example, wood or painted metal);

  • (h) if propellant powder, percussion caps, blank cartridges for tools, unmixed reactive targets or black powder cartouches are stored with small arms cartridges in the storage unit, they must be stored separately from one another (for example, on different shelves or separated by a wooden barrier);

  • (i) precautions that minimize the likelihood of an ignition or a fire in or near the storage unit must be taken; and

  • (j) a sign that displays the words “Danger — Fire Hazard/Risque d’incendie” in letters at least 10 cm high and that prohibits smoking using letters, or a symbol, at least 10 cm high must be posted on the storage unit in a clearly visible location.

  • (k) [Repealed, SOR/2024-77, s. 80]

  • (l) [Repealed, SOR/2024-77, s. 80]

DIVISION 2Propellant Powder and Percussion Caps and the Manufacture of Small Arms Cartridges and Black Powder Cartouches

Marginal note:Definitions

• 282 (1) The following definitions apply in this Division.

  distributor

  distributor means a person who sells propellant powder or percussion caps to other distributors or to retailers, whether or not they sell to users. (distributeur)

  licence

  licence means a licence issued under the Explosives Act that authorizes the storage of the explosive, whether propellant powder, percussion caps or black powder cartouches, that are to be sold, acquired or manufactured. (licence)

  retailer

  retailer means a person, other than a distributor, who sells propellant powder or percussion caps. (détaillant)

  seller

  seller means a distributor or a retailer. (vendeur)

  user

  user means a person who acquires propellant powder or percussion caps for use. (utilisateur)

• Marginal note:Propellant powder

  (2) A reference in this Division to a mass of propellant powder does not include propellant powder that is in a small arms cartridge, percussion cap or primer.

Rules for Sellers

Acquisition for Sale

Marginal note:Distributor

• 283 (1) A distributor may acquire, store and sell propellant powder and percussion caps if they hold a licence. A distributor who acquires propellant powder or percussion caps must comply with this Division.

• Marginal note:Retailer

  (2) A retailer may acquire, store and sell propellant powder and percussion caps, whether or not they hold a licence. A retailer who acquires propellant powder or percussion caps must comply with this Division.

Storage

Marginal note:Licensed seller

• 284 (1) A seller who holds a licence must store their propellant powder and percussion caps in the magazine specified in their licence and ensure that the requirements of section 286 are met.

• Marginal note:Separate storage

  (2) A seller must not store propellant powder and percussion caps in the same magazine.

Marginal note:Unlicensed retailer

285 A retailer who does not hold a licence must store their propellant powder and percussion caps in a sales establishment and must ensure that the requirements of sections 286 to 288 are met.

Marginal note:Display for sale — propellant powder

• 286 (1) No more than 12 kg of propellant powder, of which no more than 500 g may be black powder, may be displayed for sale.

• Marginal note:Size of container

  (2) Propellant powder that is displayed for sale must be in a container that holds no more than 500 g.

• Marginal note:Display for sale — percussion caps

  (3) No more than 10 000 percussion caps may be displayed for sale.

• Marginal note:Original packaging

  (4) Percussion caps that are displayed for sale must be in their original packaging.

• Marginal note:Precautions

  (5) Propellant powder and percussion caps that are displayed for sale must be kept behind a counter or locked up (for example, in a cabinet).

• Marginal note:Access

  (6) Only people authorized by the retailer may have access to the area behind a sales counter.

Marginal note:Original packaging

286.1 A seller may sell percussion caps only if they are in their original packaging.

Marginal note:Place of storage

• 287 (1) Propellant powder and percussion caps that are not displayed for sale must be stored in a dwelling or a storage unit.

• Marginal note:Original packaging

  (2) Percussion caps must be stored in their original packaging.

• Marginal note:Original container

  (2.1) Black powder and smokeless powder must be stored in their original containers. No more than 500 g of black powder may be stored in a container.

• Marginal note:Detached dwellings

  (3) The maximum quantity of propellant powder that may be stored at any one time in a detached dwelling, or in a storage unit attached to a detached dwelling, is 25 kg of which no more than 10 kg may be black powder.

• Marginal note:Other dwellings — smokeless powder

  (4) The maximum quantity of smokeless powder that may be stored at any one time in a dwelling other than a detached dwelling, or in a storage unit attached to a dwelling other than a detached dwelling, is

  • (a) 20 kg, if all the smokeless powder is in containers that hold no more than 1 kg; or

  • (b) 5 kg, if any of the smokeless powder is in a container that holds more than 1 kg.

• Marginal note:Other dwellings — black powder

  (5) The maximum quantity of black powder that may be stored at any one time in a dwelling other than a detached dwelling, or in a storage unit attached to a dwelling other than a detached dwelling, is

  • (a) 1 kg, with no more than 500 g of black powder per container, if the black powder is in original containers; or

  • (b) 3 kg less any quantity that is in containers, if the black powder is in small arms cartridges or black powder cartouches.

• Marginal note:Detached storage unit

  (6) The maximum quantity of black powder and smokeless powder that may be stored at any one time in storage units that are not attached to a dwelling, whether in a single unit or in several, is 25 kg and 75 kg, respectively.