Frequently asked questions about tracking and tracing of explosives

The topic of tracking and tracing can be very complex and bring up many questions. To be well-informed about everything, we collected often asked questions for you. We hope all of our answers will help you to keep track of it. In case you have unanswered questions, please contact us by phone or our contact form.

General questions about TTE

What do I gain by implementing TTE prior to the deadline prescribed by law?

There are a number of reasons for implementing TTE early:

TTE offers many advantages which are independent of the EC directive's requirements. For example, these include the very efficient method of accounting for explosives and their logistic units via simple scanning, the electronic inventory book and statistical evaluations.

TTE is simple to operate. Nevertheless, companies should plan on an adequate learning phase for those affected departments which do not have much familiarity in dealing with software.

TTE offers a number of options which provide strategic competitive advantages. This applies particularly to companies who deliver explosives to third parties.

Can national peculiarities be accommodated?

What languages are available for TTE implementations?

What company size can TTE handle?

Is this software compatible with other software packages such as ERP systems?

What happens to my data if I choose to discontinue use of TTE at some time in the future?

Am I exposing myself to a strategic dependency by purchasing TTE?

Can other companies, which do not use TTE, interact with the TTE mailbox system?

Content questions about TTE

Can I also carry out other logistic processes, such as warehouse management, with TTE?

How is the 24-hour, 7 days a week information response requirement for governmental agencies warranted?

Will I become a 'glass company' by allowing governmental agencies access to the data stored in my TTE-Trustcenter?

No, the searches made by governmental agencies in your TTE Trustcenter data are only possible when you have expressly released it for this purpose in advance. The queries which governmental agencies can make in the TTE Trustcenter continue to be restricted to specific individual explosives and do not permit access to inventory data. Furthermore, governmental agencies have access only to the last location at which the individual product is recorded, not the path the product took to get there.
You can also put a time limit on the release of TTE Trustcenter data to governmental agency access, for example when you are on vacation.
Of course you will also be informed by TTE about every query made to your TTE Trustcenter data performed by governmental agencies.

General questions about identification directive 2008/43/EC

Who is affected by the EC identification directive 2008/43/EC?

The EC directive affects all manufacturers, importers, dealers, transporters and end users of explosives for civilian purposes in the EC. Non-packaged explosives and explosives delivered in pumping vehicles for unloading at a bore hole are exempted from the directive. Also not affected: explosives produced at the location of their detonation or munitions, detonation cords and safety detonation cords which burn off after ignition at a predetermined rate without any explosive effect as well as detonation caps.

At what point in time are explosives required to have a data matrix code?

Identification is mandatory for all explosives manufactured in or imported into the EC which are subject to the EC identification directive beginning April 2013. However, many manufacturers of explosives will mark their explosives with a data matrix code, as well as correlate logistic units to items as a file available to the given customer, much earlier than required.
Residual stocks in the market which have no data matrix codes may still be used during the period from April 2013 until April 2015.

What information must be contained in the data matrix code?

For every individual item and, at least in part for every smallest packaging unit, EC identification directive 2008/43/EC requires the following obligations of every company which brings explosives onto the EC market:

country of manufacture or import into the EC
number of the manufacturer's production location or the importer
unique product code (serial number for every individual unit such as detonator, booster, cartridge, …)

The FEEM, Federation of European Explosives Manufacturers, has prepared a Guidance Note for the identification of explosives which is based on the EC identification directive. The Guidance Note explains how the obligations of the law can be implemented (see Downloads).

Does the EC identification directive 2008/43/EC provide for exceptions?

To establish contact, please use the following E-Mail-Form or simply call us +49 351/82665100 Fields marked with * are obligatory.
	Mr. Ms.





Privacy policy
	accept privacy policy directive

Frequently asked questions about tracking and tracing of explosives

General questions about TTE

Content questions about TTE

General questions about identification directive 2008/43/EC

You wish a consultation?