SSAN manufacture licence - New, amendment or transfer

When is this licence required?

Any person who manufactures a security sensitive ammonium nitrate, such as ammonium nitrate, emulsion or gel, must hold a security sensitive ammonium nitrate manufacture licence.

The manufacturing must be undertaken at a fixed plant with access to associated storage facilities if required.

The security sensitive ammonium nitrate manufacture licence is issued for five years.

Manufacture licences are site specific and only allow the manufacture of the security sensitive ammonium nitrate described on the licence.

The licence may allow for storage of manufactured product within the plant perimeter, with excess product stored in complying magazines located away from the plant.

The manufacture of a security sensitive ammonium nitrate at a state explosives facility (SEF) requires the applicant to negotiate the lease of a site(s).

When is a manufacture licence not required?

A person is authorised to manufacture a security sensitive ammonium nitrate without holding a security sensitive ammonium nitrate manufacture licence if he or she:

• holds an explosives manufacture (MPU) licence
• is a secure employee of the holder of a licence that authorises the holder to possess the security sensitive ammonium nitrate in the circumstances
• manufactures the security sensitive ammonium nitrate while being supervised by the holder of a security sensitive ammonium nitrate manufacture licence
• controls and manages a commercial laboratory or is employed in such a laboratory, and
  • manufactures the security sensitive ammonium nitrate for analytical or research purposes that do not involve the manufacture of an illegal product
  • there is not more than three kilograms of any security sensitive ammonium nitrate in the laboratory
• is employed by an educational institution or government organisation, or is a student at an educational institution, and
  • manufactures the security sensitive ammonium nitrate at the institution or organisation for analytical, educational or research purposes that do not involve the manufacture of an illegal product
  • there is not more than 3 kg of any security sensitive ammonium nitrate at each laboratory.

Who can apply?

• Licences can be granted to an individual, body corporate or partnership.
• Individuals must be at least 21 years of age.

Use of an accredited consultant

To develop the submission, it is recommended that those intending to apply for a licence engage a dangerous goods consultant accredited to prepare and submit security sensitive ammonium nitrate applications. The consultant will normally complete the application form on the applicant’s behalf, but the intended licensee must sign the application.

Applications submitted without accredited consultant endorsement may take up to three months to process and a checking fee applies. Deficient submissions will take longer to process.

Refer to What is the role of accredited dangerous goods consultants? for a list of consultants.

Required information

The application must be signed by the intended licensee and lodged with:

• Completed and signed application form
• If applicable, a separate sheet briefly describing details of any relevant offence resulting in convictions, and/or charges pending
• The original certified colour copy of an interstate recognised security clearance
• A copy of the security plan
• Individual: Colour copy of motor driver's licence
• Body Corporate: Original certified copy of certificate of incorporation
• Partnership:
  • Original certified copy of evidence of the partnership
  • A statutory declaration from each partner (see the application form for more information)

Failure to provide the required documentation will delay processing of applications. Most applications are dealt with within approximately 30 business days.

The following information may assist in obtaining the required supporting information.

Security plan

A security plan is a pre-condition for obtaining a licence. The content of a security plan is prescribed in the Dangerous Goods Safety (Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate) Regulations 2007, which require licence holders to develop a written document including a security risk assessment and other prescribed elements.

To assist in developing your security plan, a template has been developed, and copies are available below.

Use of this template is not mandatory; however, the security plan should sufficiently address the national Ammonium Nitrate Guidance Note No. 2, Storage.

• Security risk assessment and security plan template - SSAN storage

Failure to provide the required documentation will delay processing of applications. Most applications are dealt with within 20 business days.

Application fee

Only the licence fee for the first year of the licence is to be lodged with the application. Licence fees for subsequent years will be billed annually.

A checking fee:

• does not apply if a consultant endorses the proposal as complying with the regulations
• applies for applications without accredited consultant endorsement.

The checking fees are equal to the licence fee payable with the application.

Go to Dangerous goods fees and charges for more information on licence fees.

Lodging the application

The completed application form, together with supporting documents and payment can be sent to the department via:

Emailed to: cso@dmirs.wa.gov.au