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§555

Effective 9/11/2003 to 7/26/2005. View current

Effective date is the date this part was last amended

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555.

SUBPART A - Introduction
§ 555.1 Scope of regulations.
§ 555.2 Relation to other provisions of law.
SUBPART B - Definitions
§ 555.11 Meaning of terms.
SUBPART C - Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions
§ 555.21 Forms prescribed.
§ 555.22 Alternate methods or procedures; emergency variations from requirements.
§ 555.23 List of explosive materials.
§ 555.24 Right of entry and examination.
§ 555.25 Disclosure of information.
§ 555.26 Prohibited shipment, transportation, receipt, possession, or distribution of explosive materials.
§ 555.27 Out-of-State disposition of explosive materials.
§ 555.28 Stolen explosive materials.
§ 555.29 Unlawful storage.
§ 555.30 Reporting theft or loss of explosive materials.
§ 555.31 Inspection of site accidents or fires; right of entry.
§ 555.32 Special explosive devices.
§ 555.33 Background checks and clearances (effective May 24, 2003).
§ 555.34 Replacement of stolen or lost ATF Form 5400.30 (Intrastate Purchase of Explosives Coupon (IPEC)).
SUBPART D - Licenses and Permits
§ 555.41 General.
§ 555.42 License fees.
§ 555.43 Permit fees.
§ 555.44 License or permit fee not refundable.
§ 555.45 Original license or permit.
§ 555.46 Renewal of license or permit.
§ 555.47 Insufficient fee.
§ 555.48 Abandoned application.
§ 555.49 Issuance of license or permit.
§ 555.50 Correction of error on license or permit.
§ 555.51 Duration of license or permit.
§ 555.52 Limitations on license or permit.
§ 555.53 License and permit not transferable.
§ 555.54 Change of address.
§ 555.55 Change in class of explosive materials.
§ 555.56 Change in trade name.
§ 555.57 Change of control, change in responsible persons, and change of employees.
§ 555.58 Continuing partnerships.
§ 555.59 Right of succession by certain persons.
§ 555.60 Certain continuances of business or operations.
§ 555.61 Discontinuance of business or operations.
§ 555.62 State or other law.
§ 555.63 Explosives magazine changes.
SUBPART E - License and Permit Proceedings
§ 555.71 Opportunity for compliance.
§ 555.72 Denial of initial application.
§ 555.73 Hearing after initial application is denied.
§ 555.74 Denial of renewal application or revocation of license or permit.
§ 555.75 Hearing after denial of renewal application or revocation of license or permit.
§ 555.76 Action by regional director (compliance).
§ 555.77 Designated place of hearing.
§ 555.78 Representation at a hearing.
§ 555.79 Appeal on petition to the Director.
§ 555.80 Court review.
§ 555.81 Service on applicant, licensee, or permittee.
§ 555.82 Provisions of part 200 made applicable.
§ 555.83 Operations by licensees or permittees after notice of denial or revocation.
SUBPART F - Conduct of Business or Operations
§ 555.101 Posting of license or user permit.
§ 555.102 Authorized operations by permittees.
§ 555.103 Transactions among licensees/permittees and transactions among licensees and holders of user permits.
§ 555.104 Certified copy of license or permit.
§ 555.105 Distributions to nonlicensees, nonpermittees, and limited permittees.
§ 555.106 Certain prohibited distributions.
§ 555.107 Record of transactions.
§ 555.108 Importation.
§ 555.109 Identification of explosive materials.
§ 555.110 Furnishing of samples (Effective on and after January 24, 2003).
SUBPART G - Records and Reports
§ 555.121 General.
§ 555.122 Records maintained by licensed importers.
§ 555.123 Records maintained by licensed manufacturers.
§ 555.124 Records maintained by licensed dealers.
§ 555.125 Records maintained by permittees.
§ 555.126 Explosives transaction record for distribution of explosive materials prior to May 24, 2003 and Limited Permittee Transaction Report for distribution of explosive materials on and after May 24, 2003.
§ 555.127 Daily summary of magazine transactions.
§ 555.128 Discontinuance of business.
§ 555.129 Exportation.
§ 555.130 [Reserved]
SUBPART H - Exemptions
§ 555.141 Exemptions.
§ 555.142 Relief from disabilities (effective January 24, 2003).
SUBPART I - Unlawful Acts, Penalties, Seizures and Forfeitures
§ 555.161 Engaging in business without a license.
§ 555.162 False statement or representation.
§ 555.163 False entry in record.
§ 555.164 Unlawful storage.
§ 555.165 Failure to report theft or loss.
§ 555.166 Seizure or forfeiture.
SUBPART J - Marking of Plastic Explosives
§ 555.180 Prohibitions relating to unmarked plastic explosives.
§ 555.181 Reporting of plastic explosives.
§ 555.182 Exceptions.
§ 555.183 Importation of plastic explosives on or after April 24, 1997.
§ 555.184 Statements of process and samples.
§ 555.185 Criminal sanctions.
§ 555.186 Seizure or forfeiture.
SUBPART K - Storage
§ 555.201 General.
§ 555.202 Classes of explosive materials.
§ 555.203 Types of magazines.
§ 555.204 Inspection of magazines.
§ 555.205 Movement of explosive materials.
§ 555.206 Location of magazines.
§ 555.207 Construction of type 1 magazines.
§ 555.208 Construction of type 2 magazines.
§ 555.209 Construction of type 3 magazines.
§ 555.210 Construction of type 4 magazines.
§ 555.211 Construction of type 5 magazines.
§ 555.212 Smoking and open flames.
§ 555.213 Quantity and storage restrictions.
§ 555.214 Storage within types 1, 2, 3, and 4 magazines.
§ 555.215 Housekeeping.
§ 555.216 Repair of magazines.
§ 555.217 Lighting.
§ 555.218 Table of distances for storage of explosive materials.
§ 555.219 Table of distances for storage of low explosives.
§ 555.220 Table of separation distances of ammonium nitrate and blasting agents from explosives or blasting agents.
§ 555.221 Requirements for display fireworks, pyrotechnic compositions, and explosive materials used in assembling fireworks or articles pyrotechnic.
§ 555.222 Table of distances between fireworks process buildings and between fireworks process and fireworks nonprocess buildings.
§ 555.223 Table of distances between fireworks process buildings and other specified areas.
§ 555.224 Table of distances for the storage of display fireworks (except bulk salutes).

Regulation Timeline

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Current Law
6/5/2026
Final Rule
- Published 5/6/2026
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12/26/2019
Final Rule
- Published 11/25/2019
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5/31/2019
Final Rule
- Published 4/1/2019
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4/8/2019
Final Rule
- Published 4/8/2019
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10/2/2015
Final Rule
- Published 10/2/2015
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8/11/2014
Final Rule
- Published 8/11/2014
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3/22/2010
Final Rule
- Published 1/20/2010
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2/13/2009
Final Rule
- Published 1/14/2009
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10/2/2008
Final Rule
- Published 10/2/2008
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10/10/2006
Final Rule
- Published 8/11/2006
Compare 555 effective on 10/10/2006 with
7/26/2005
Final Rule
- Published 5/27/2005
Compare 555 effective on 7/26/2005 with
9/11/2003
Final Rule
- Published 9/11/2003
Compare 555 effective on 9/11/2003 with
3/20/2003
Final Rule
- Published 3/20/2003
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§ 555.185 Criminal sanctions.

Any person who violates the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 842(l)-(o) shall be fined under title 18, U.S.C., imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.

Previous - § 555.184 Statements of process and samples.
Next - § 555.186 Seizure or forfeiture.

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Is it lawful to manufacture, import, ship, transport, transfer, receive, or possess any plastic explosive that does not contain a detection agent?
All plastic explosives manufactured or imported on or after April 24, 1996, must contain a detection agent. (The importation of plastic explosives into the United States requires that the importer file ATF Form 6 certifying that the imported plastic explosives contain the required detection agent, or is exempted from the marking requirements as provided in the regulations). It unlawful to manufacture, import, transfer, receive, or possess any plastic explosive that does not contain a detection agent. Federal law enforcement agencies and the military may possess unmarked plastic explosives if they meet the affirmative defense requirements under 27 CFR 555.182.
If a person acquired plastic explosives not containing a detection agent before April 24, 1996, may he or she continue to lawfully possess the explosives?
No. With the exception of the use-up period provided by law for federal law enforcement agencies or the military, the time period for lawful possession of unmarked plastic explosives terminated on April 24, 1999.[18 U.S.C. 842(n); 27 CFR 555.180(c)]

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1 Citation

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T.D. ATF-387, 62 FR 8378, Feb. 25, 1997

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Disclaimer of Liability and Endorsement

Input weight of explosives

Maximum allowable input weight of 300,000 lbs (136,077 kg)

For weights above 10,000 lbs (4,535 kg) use table § 555.218

Maximum allowable input weight of 500lbs (226kg)

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Note: All calculations take into account requirements listed in table footnotes. Be advised that calculations may not match expected table values. Please be aware of footnote considerations when making calculations.

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