Philippines bands ammonium nitrate imports
The Phillipines government has banned imports of ammonium nitrate fertiliser, over fears it is being used in explosives. No word yet on other useful household chemicals such as nitric acid and ammonium hydroxide.
Fertiliser and Pesticide Authority spokesman Gerry Caccam said the ban would take effect this week but that existing stocks of ammonium nitrate could still be used.[...]
Caccam said farmers could turn to other fertilisers such as potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate. While these substances can also be processed into explosives, they are not as potent as ammonium nitrate, he said.[...]
Reports say that ammonium nitrate imports shot up from 180 tonnes in 2001 to more than 4,000 tonnes this year.
“The question is where is the ammonium nitrate going,” said Caccam. He said there have been reports that the substance was being diverted to make explosives for illegal blast fishermen. – AFP, Philippines bans fertiliser.