Importers must obtain an ATF import permit before bringing propellant powders into the United States. The permit process requires documentation of the importer's license, the intended end use, and the foreign supplier. Shipments arriving without a valid permit are subject to seizure.

Propellant powders are specifically designed to generate propulsive gas when ignited in a controlled manner, as in a firearm or rocket motor, rather than to detonate. Prepared explosives that function by detonation — such as dynamite or ANFO blends — are classified in the adjacent heading covering prepared explosives other than propellant powders.