Revised legislation (the Fireworks Regulations 2004) was introduced on the 7th August 2004, (except for the Licensing and Importation requirements which were introduced on 1st January 2005).

In summary the new rules:

• Prohibit persons under 18 from possessing an adult firework (i.e. all fireworks except party poppers and sparklers etc) in a public place.

• Prohibits persons of any age from possessing ( in a public place or elsewhere) a category 4 firework (i.e. professional display firework).

• Prohibits persons from using adult fireworks during night hours (i.e. between 11pm and 7am) but exceptions allow such use until 1am on the nights of Chinese new year, Diwali and New Years Eve and until midnight on Bonfire Night. Exceptions are in place for the purposes of Local Authority fireworks displays, national public celebrations or national commemorative events.

• Prohibit the supply, purchase or possession of category 3 fireworks where noise levels exceed 120 decibels. ( Provisions are made in the regulations for measuring these noise levels)

• Require suppliers of adult fireworks to hold a licence, except at certain times of year - November 5th (3 weeks before and 5 days after), New Years Eve (December 26 to 1January), Chinese New Year (4 days before, inc the day of Chinese New Year), Diwali (4 days before, inc Diwali)

• Requires suppliers of adult fireworks to inform the persons to whom such fireworks are supplied or exposed for supply that it is a criminal offence to supply adult fireworks to those under 18 and for those under 18 to possess such fireworks, (This is to be in the form of a notice supplied at the time of sale).

• Requires fireworks suppliers to provide, on request, a local licensing authority with information about fireworks in circumstances where the total net explosive content of fireworks supplied in a single transaction exceeds 50 Kilograms.

• Requires importers of fireworks to give information about themselves, the storage and onward supply of such fireworks to customs and excise.