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The import, storage, and use of explosives will be brought into the licensing field with the proposed amendments and addenda, which will provide an opportunity to take more effective control measures and to define basic standards and mandatory requirements for issuing licenses.

The draft law on Making Amendments and Addenda to the Law on Licensing and the related package of draft laws authored by the MP Sisak Gabrielyan was debated at the RA NA regular sitting in the first reading on March 21.

According to the EAEU technical regulations, explosives are divided into five groups. Weaker explosive materials belong to the first and second class. “We match our technical regulations with the technical regulations of the EAEU, and the import, use and sale of explosives of the third, fourth, and fifth class are actually prohibited. In other words, if there are fireworks in Armenia, then it is on holidays of state or community importance, during important events with the participation of the state or community,” Sisak Gabrielyan clarified. The import and sale of explosives of the first and second class will continue to operate, but certain requirements will be introduced in the provisions regarding their storage and transportation.

The deputy Sona Ghazaryan, highlighting the necessity of adopting the draft, inquired when the ban on the import of third and fourth class explosives will come into effect. Sisak Gabrielyan informed that after the adoption of the law, entrepreneurs will be given a six-month period.

The deputy of RA NA Armenia Faction Gegham Nazaryan inquired in his turn: “After banning the sale and import of third, fourth, and fifth class explosives, to what extent will we be freed from the noise of fireworks at 12 o’clock at night on the occasion of people’s birthdays?” Sisak Gabrielyan did not exclude that some people may import these materials by smuggling and use them. He also noted that after the adoption of the legislative initiative, the use will decrease by 90% or more. The author of the bill informed that the fines have been considerably tightened: in case of violating the law, instead of the current fine of 50-100 thousand AMD, a fine of up to 3 million AMD will be paid.

Tsovinar Vardanyan, introducing the endorsement of the Standing (Head) Committee on Economic Affairs, mentioned that the legislative initiative is aimed at alleviating citizens’ concerns and anxieties regarding night fireworks.

The RA Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs David Hambaryan thanked the author for implementing the important initiative. According to him, many proposals and observations were presented by the Government, which were almost completely adopted.