Chief Inspectors of Explosives (CIE)
and Explosives, Propellants & Pyrotechnics (EPP) of igus

CIE/IGUS-EPP is a conference which brings together many explosive experts from different backgrounds. It includes representatives from governments, notified bodies and industry from around the world. Several representatives also attend the United Nations Explosives Working Group and other national or regional workgroups on explosives.

The CIE and IGUS-EPP are two different groups that have come together for logistical practicalities.

CIE, the Chief Inspectors of Explosives, which is an old UK empire system, where there was a government position with this title in each of their colonies. The true meaning now, however, is the central explosive authority in every country, often different than the transport facility. CIE is interested in safety, security, accidents, and maintenance and development of laws and regulations to manage these areas.

IGUS, the International Group of Experts on the Explosion Risks of Unstable Substances, was created as an advisory group to the OECD in 1962. When the work at that time was completed, the group decided to continue without OECD sponsorship. IGUS attendees consist of national explosives laboratories and others interested in technical work. It consists of two working groups, EPP on intentionally explosive materials, and EOS on unintentionally explosive materials. The aim of IGUS-EPP is to exchange information and topics of discussion include the behavior of explosives substances and articles with respect to handling, transport and storage.

Any participant can bring items that they feel would be a benefit. UN papers are discussed and vetted. Matters of national security and safety, including quantity-distance, incidents and testing methods are discussed.

IGUS-EPP intends to be a little bit more technical, whereas CIE is more enforcement or national law, but there is significant overlap, hence the two groups now meet.

This is a closed, invitation-only meeting. In general, the participants include national authorities and national laboratories on the government side, and representatives of industry. The current geographical distribution is primarily Europe, North America and China/Japan/Australia. There is participation from South America and Africa, and experts everywhere are welcomed.

The CIE closed session is an opportunity for governments to speak together about sensitive issues. The main example is ongoing enforcement issues. The rapport between government and industry at this meeting is very good, so the closed session typically only consists of matters which simply can’t be discussed with non-governmental authorities. It is available for government authorities to speak together on any topic and may last half a day.

Many European laboratories such as TNO, HSL, LOM, INERIS, BAM and national authorities all over the world (USA, Canada, Chile etc.) have been participating for decades.