What is required for security sensitive ammonium nitrate licences?

Common features of security sensitive ammonium nitrate licensing

Security sensitive ammonium nitrate licences address security matters only and have some common requirements to be fulfilled when applying for a licence.

Overview of security sensitive ammonium nitrate regulations - information sheet - 289 Kb

This document is for guidance only and the definitive statutory requirements are contained in the Dangerous Goods Safety (Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate) Regulations 2007.

Dangerous Goods Safety (Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate) Regulations 2007 - information sheet - 265 Kb

This information sheet explains the main amendments in effect from 1 January 2014 under the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007 (Explosives Regulations) and Dangerous Goods Safety (Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate) Regulations 2007.

Individual requirements unique to a security sensitive ammonium nitrate licence are addressed in the licence application document. The following links may be of use to those requiring licences associated with security sensitive ammonium nitrate.

Security clearance

Security sensitive ammonium nitrate licences are only issued to applicants in possession of a valid security clearance, which is a pre-condition of the licensing process.

A licence held by an individual only remains valid while the security clearance of the individual is current.

Accessing security sensitive ammonium nitrate

People with unsupervised access to security sensitive ammonium nitrate require a security clearance (typically a dangerous goods security card). Additionally, the card holder also requires authorisation from the security sensitive ammonium nitrate licence holder to have unsupervised access to the security sensitive ammonium nitrate.

This establishes that the employee has an operational need and the competence to have unsupervised access to security sensitive ammonium nitrate, and gives the person the legal status of a secure nominee.

Meaning of ‘controlled by the other person’ for security purposes - information sheet - 232 Kb

This information sheet covers many of the licences with activities involving explosives and security sensitive ammonium nitrate that require the possession of a valid dangerous goods security card.

It is an offence for a security sensitive ammonium nitrate licence holder or secure nominees to allow unsupervised access to security sensitive ammonium nitrate by a person without security clearance.

There are templates available for authorisation of unsupervised and supervised access to security sensitive ammonium nitrate.

Authorisation to secure nominees for unsupervised access to explosives or security sensitive ammonium nitrate - template - 38 Kb

This template records details of the authorisation to secure nominees for unsupervised access to explosives or security sensitive ammonium nitrate.

Authorisation for supervised access to explosives or security sensitive ammonium nitrate - template - 37 Kb

This template records details of the authorisation for supervised access to explosives or security sensitive ammonium nitrate

A security clearance or authorisation as a secure nominee is required for any unsupervised activity associated with security sensitive ammonium nitrate of any quantity.

Security plans

Applications for security sensitive ammonium nitrate licences for manufacture, storage, transport and fertilisers require a security plan as a pre-condition for obtaining the 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.

Security plan templates have been developed to assist industry in meeting these requirements.

Security risk assessment and security plan template - SSAN storage - 205 Kb

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 transport - 227 Kb

Use of this template is not mandatory; however, the security plan should sufficiently address the national Ammonium Nitrate Guidance Note No.1, Transport.

Security risk assessment and security plan template - SSAN fertiliser use - 76 Kb

Use of this template is not mandatory; however, the security plan should sufficiently address the national Ammonium Nitrate Guidance Note No.3, Agricultural Use.

The licence holder and person representing the company as the responsible person for implementing the security plan are required to implement and comply with the security plan. The licence holder is required to have a responsible person with a security card at all times.

Disclosure of offences

All applicants for a security sensitive ammonium nitrate licence must disclose details in their licence application of:

  • any relevant offence for which they have been convicted
  • any charge of a relevant offence that is pending.

A relevant offence is an offence against:

  • the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004, or any regulations made under the Act
  • a law of another place that substantially corresponds to the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 or the regulations made under it
  • the law of this State or another place and where an element of that law is the handling, storage or transport of explosives.

For a list of associated regulations visit Dangerous goods safety legislation.