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Trading Standards - Fireworks

Advice for businesses

The Trading Standards Team are responsible for issuing Explosive Registrations. If you wish to sell fireworks you must register with us first. For further details about the requirements for storing and selling fireworks visit the Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) web site.

For information on the licence required to sell fireworks, including a downloadable application form, please visit the Explosives licence page in our Licensing section.

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Advice for consumers

Advice on buying and the safe use of fireworks can be found on the Health and Safety Executive web site.

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Summary of the law on fireworks

The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 and The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2010

Fireworks (except those listed below) must not be supplied to persons under the age of 18. Note that caps, cracker snaps, novelty matches, party poppers, serpents and throwdowns must not be supplied to persons under the age of 16.

The following fireworks must not be supplied to the general public:

• aerial shells, aerial maroons, shells-in-mortar and maroons-in-mortar;
• all bangers (including 'batteries' containing bangers, such as Chinese Crackers);
• mini-rockets;
• fireworks with erratic flight (e.g. ground spinners, jumping crackers, squibs);
• some Category 2 and Category 3 fireworks (as classified by BS 7114) which exceed size limits specified in the 1997.

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Regulations

All Category 4 fireworks:

• Packets of sparklers to carry additional warning - "Warning: not to be given to children under five years of age.".
• Retail boxes of fireworks must not be split.
• All fireworks intended for use by the general public must comply with British Standard BS7114 Part 2: 1988.
• All fireworks not suitable (as determined by the Regulations) for use by the general public to bear the warning - "This device must not be sold to, or used by, a member of the general public.".

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Penalties

• Failure to comply with these requirements can result in prosecution and a fine of up to £5000 or a prison sentence of up to six months, or both. The Explosives Act 1875 (as amended).

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Storage of fireworks

• It is an offence to keep fireworks (except those for private use) on premises which have not been registered or licensed for that purpose.

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Throwing fireworks

• It is an offence to throw or discharge a firework in a street or public place.

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Final points to remember

• Keep all fireworks in a dry place.
• Label all containers "Fireworks-Highly Flammable" (and always keep these containers closed).
• Don't allow any smoking anywhere near fireworks being displayed or sold. Put up "No Smoking" notices.
• Unplug any electrical fitting that is inside a display case containing fireworks.
• Never let customers handle any fireworks while they are choosing.

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