Restrictions on the Sale of Fireworks

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Regulations introduced in 2005 made important changes to the law on the sale, supply and possession of fireworks. The main changes are:

• The offence of selling fireworks to someone under 18 has been altered to remove the defence that the customer looked 18 or older. It is now a matter of fact - if the customer is under 18 and you sell fireworks to them you will commit an offence. It is most important for your own protection to ask for proof of age.
  
  
• All suppliers/sellers of fireworks must display a notice of A3 size with character size 16 mm stating:
  
  IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL ADULT FIREWORKS OR SPARKLERS TO ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN.
  
  IT IS ILLEGAL FOR ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN TO POSSESS ADULT FIREWORKS IN A PUBLIC PLACE.
  
  
• The minimum sizes detailed above do not apply to catalogues, websites etc., but the information must still be provided.
  
  
• It it illegal to display for sale or sell fireworks outside of the following periods:
  
  First day of Chinese New Year and 3 days prior
  Diwali and 3 days prior
  Between 15th October and 10th November
  Between 26th and 31st December
  
  Unless you have been granted a special licence by the Trading Standards Service. Licences cost £500 and can be obtained by contacting the Service as detailed at the bottom of this factsheet.

• If you sell or supply more than 50kgs net explosive content of fireworks in a single transaction you must record the following information:
  
  The name and address of your supplier
  The date the fireworks were supplied to you
  The name and address of your customer
  The date you supplied the fireworks
  The actual quantity supplied.
  
  Trading Standards Officers may require you to provide the information at any time. Failure to provide it is an offence and may render you liable to prosecution.
  
  
• No person under the age of 18 may have "adult fireworks or sparklers" in a public place. The term "adult fireworks or sparklers" means all fireworks except party poppers, throwdowns, caps and novelty matches.
  
  
• No member of the public may possess "professional fireworks". These fireworks are sometimes referred to as "Category 4 fireworks".

Firework Resources on the web:

• Fireworks Retailers and the Law   (Factsheet - Regulatory Services - Hampshire County Council)
  

• UK Firework Safety Website   (Firework Industry Website)
  

• BERR Firework Safety Website   (BERR - Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)
  

• Firework Injury Statistics - 2005  (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)

• Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service

• Fight For Sight   (Charity)

 

This advice is designed to provide basic guidance to traders. It is not a complete or authoritative statement of the law. For further assistance on this or any other Trading Standards legislation, please contact your nearest office. We will be pleased to offer this information in larger print or translated into any language on request.

 

B/saf/001/006 September 2008