Legal analysis: it is illegal for individuals to buy and sell coal without approval, otherwise it is not illegal. . Coal is not a state monopoly commodity stipulated by law, and it does not constitute an illegal act according to the principle of "permission is deemed if there is no prohibition by law".

Legal basis: Article 225 of the Criminal Law of People's Republic of China (PRC), in violation of state regulations, commits one of the following illegal business operations, disrupting market order, and if the circumstances are serious, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years or criminal detention, and shall also, or shall only, be fined not less than one time but not more than five times the illegal income; If the circumstances are especially serious, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than five years, and shall also be fined not less than one time but not more than five times for illegal gains or confiscation of property:

(a) operating a franchise or monopoly commodity or other commodities whose operation is restricted by laws and administrative regulations without permission;

(2) buying and selling import and export licenses, import and export certificates of origin and other business licenses or approval documents stipulated by laws and administrative regulations;

(three) without the approval of the relevant competent departments of the state, illegally engaged in securities, futures, insurance business, or illegally engaged in fund payment and settlement business;

(four) other illegal business activities that seriously disrupt the market order.