What are the age Restrictions?
- Fireworks including sparklers must not be supplied to persons under 18.
- Caps, crackers snaps, party poppers, throwdowns, serpents, novelty matches may be supplied to persons over 16.
What fireworks cannot be sold 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 (eg jumping crackers, squibs),
- fireworks intended for professional display only, and
- category 3 fireworks whose noise level exceeds 120 decibels.
What other restrictions are there?
- All fireworks intended to be sold to the public must comply with BS 7114 and be marked accordingly.
- Boxes of fireworks which the packer intended to be sold complete must not be split and sold individually.
- Packets of sparklers must carry the warning -‘WARNING NOT TO BE GIVEN TO CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OF AGE’.
Are there storage requirements for fireworks?
YES. It is an offence to keep fireworks (except those for private use) on premises which have not been registered or licensed for that purpose. Greater Manchester County Fire Service are responsible for registrations and licenses. They can be contacted on 0161 608 4189, or by e-mailing petroleum-explosives@manchesterfire.gov.uk
When can fireworks be sold?
Unlicensed but registered suppliers may only sell fireworks as follows:
- 15 October – 10 November, and
- 26 December – 31 December.
Chinese New Year and Diwali and 3 days preceding.
Do suppliers have to display point of sale notices?
Yes. Premises selling fireworks must display the following notices:
‘It is illegal to sell adult fireworks or sparklers to anyone under the age of 18’
and
‘It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess adult fireworks in a public place’.
Lettering must be at least 16mm and on A3 size paper (420mm x 297 mm).
Are there any restrictions in possessing adult fireworks?
It is a criminal offence for:
- any person under 18 to possess an adult firework in a public place,
- any person (not firework professional) to possess display firework, and
- any person to possess category 3 firework whose noise level exceeds 120 decibels.
Can fireworks be set-off at anytime?
No. There is a curfew. Fireworks may not be used between 11pm and 7am except on designated occasions. These are:
- November 5 (Bonfire night) curfew is Midnight to 7am, and
- 31 December (New Years Eve), Chinese New Year and Diwali - the curfew is 1am to 7am.
What is the law on the throwing of fireworks?
It is an offence to throw or discharge a firework in a street or public place.
What is the penalty for breaching the regulations?
Offenders can be prosecuted in a magistrates' court and the penalties on conviction are, for each offence, a fine of up to £5,000 or a prison sentence of up to six months or both.
