| 
Did you know?
Over recent years the efforts of local
authorities, education authorities, primary schools
and fire brigades across the country have worked hard
to get across the firework safety
message.
Despite this 1136 people in England, Wales and Scotland
were treated in hospital casualty departments for injuries
caused by fireworks during the 2003 firework season.
This is a 12% increase on the 2002 figure. The biggest
increase in such injuries (42%) came at family or private
parties.
Currently fireworks may be sold 365 days of the year,
however, a Voluntary Code of Practice restricts sales
to three weeks before and a few days after November
5th. The vast majority of retailers abide by the code
although some sell them all year round.
The Law - The Consumer Protection Act 1987
Legal controls are made under this act and further
changes have been introduced for 2004. The main requirements
are:-
Fireworks (including sparklers) must not be supplied
to persons under 18. However, caps,
cracker snaps, novelty matches, party poppers, serpents
and throwdowns may be supplied to persons over 16.
The following fireworks must not be supplied to the
general public:
Aerial shells, aerial maroons,
shells-in mortar and maroons-in-mortar |
Air bombs |
| All bangers (including ‘batteries’
containing bangers, such as Chinese Crackers) |
|
Category 3 fireworks whose
noise levels exceed 120 decibels |
|
Mini Rockets |
|
Fireworks with erratic flight
(e.g. ground spinners, jumping crackers, squibs)
|
|
Fireworks intended for professional display
use only. |
|
Boxes of fireworks
intended to be sold together must not be split
down and sold individually |
|
All fireworks intended to be sold
to the public must comply with BS 7114 and be
marked accordingly. |
|
Packets of sparklers must
carry the warning :- |
| WARNING
: NOT TO BE GIVEN TO CHILDREN
UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE
|
Failure to comply with the above requirements can result
in prosecution and a fine of up to £5000 and/or
six months imprisonment.
The storage of fireworks is also very important; premises
that are used to store fireworks must be registered
and licensed (Fire Brigade responsibility in Tyne &
Wear).
It is now illegal for persons under 18 to
possess an adult firework in a public place. Sparklers,
party poppers and the like are excluded (Police responsibility).
It is also now illegal for persons using adult fireworks
during night hours i.e. between 11 pm and 7 am. Exceptions
include until midnight on November 5th and until 1 am
on Chinese New Year, Diwali and New Years Eve (Police
responsibility).
An individual can be prosecuted for throwing or discharging
fireworks in a public place (Police responsibility).
Further trader guidance
on age restricted products.
Anyone suspecting a shop of illegally selling such
products to children can report this us confidentially
on our free hotline 0800 093 5878 or
online.
Useful Links
Top
|
