1. Introduction - to our selections, types of fireworks and brands. more »
2. How to buy online - the shopping cart and payment details. more »
3. Delivery and Terms of Trading. more »
4. How big are they? - onscreen sizes can be deceptive more »
5. FAQ Some of the more frequently asked questions about buying and using fireworks more »
6. Is it legal? The law on buying and using fireworks more »
Click [
here ]Buying Fireworks: The Law for Consumers
How the law affects your buying and using fireworks.
| KEY POINTS | |
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No fireworks after 11.00pm (exceptions Bonfire Night, DIwali, New Year, Chinese New Year) |
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Bangers, jumping jacks, mini-rockets, aerial shells proscribed. |
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Max 120dB on Cat.3 |
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Min age 18 to buy or carry in public. |
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Fireworks in the street an offence |
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Cat.1 - indoor novelties |
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Cat.2 - garden fireworks, 10m recommended viewing |
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Cat.3 - display fireworks, 25m recommended viewing |
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Cat.4 - 'professional' |
Some guidelines as to what is legal - and what isn't - to help you when you are buying and using your fireworks.
The 2003 Act
Main Points of the Act and the resulting regulations:
Set a curfew on the use of fireworks, banning them between the hours of
11.00pm and 7.00am except except for Bonfire Night (midnight), Diwali, New Year, and Chinese New Year (1.00am)
Banned shop sales of fireworks louder
than 120 decibels.
Created an offence for under-18s to have them in
a public place.
Made all year-round shop sales licenceable.
Limited the sale period for other retail outlets.
The Act is also an enabling act which set out a framework
for more detailed regulations to appear in the future.
Text at Office of Public Sector Information Fireworks
Act 2003
Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997
Established the requirements for BS7114 - the Categories 1-4 classification and
the safety, testing and labelling of fireworks.
Banned
aerial shells,maroons and variations of these, bangers, mini-rockets and fireworks
of erratic flight.
Text at Office of Public Sector Information Fireworks (Safety)
Regulations 1997
BS7114 at British Standards Online
Consumer Law
There are two other main areas of legislation which can be applied to the purchase
of fireworks:
Consumer Protection. The intention of several Acts is to ensure that
the consumer has the right to goods which are of merchantable quality,
are correctly described, and are fit for the purpose for which they are
intended. Also, that there is a means of redress if these are requirements
are not fulfilled.
Mail Order Protection. Goods ordered online fall within the remit of
the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 which broadly
give similar rights and obligations to online purchasers as those which
apply to traditional mail order transactions.
Further reading:
BERR
Consumer Safety: Fireworks
NOTE: The information on this page is presented in good faith but it is not intended as a definitive guide to any or all of the legislation mentioned and no liability is accepted for its accuracy. If you require legal advice please consult a lawyer.