Prevention and Protection > Fire Safety> THE FIREWORKS (SAFETY) REGULATIONS 1997 (AS AMENDED)

Age of purchase

Fireworks (except those listed below) must not be supplied to persons under 18.  Note that caps, cracker snaps, novelty matches, party poppers, serpents and throwdowns must not be supplied to persons under the age of 16.

The following fireworks must not be supplied to the general public:

• Air bombs, aerial shells, aerial maroons, shell-in-mortar and maroons-in-mortar.
• All bangers (including “batteries” containing bangers, such as Chinese Crackers).
• Mini-rockets.
• Fireworks with erratic flight (e.g. ground spinners, jumping jacks, squibs).
• Some Category 2 and 3 fireworks (as classified by BS 7114) which exceed size limits specified in the 1997 Regulations.
• All Category 4 fireworks.

Other Measures.

• Packets of sparklers to carry additional warning – “Warning: not to be given to children under five years of age”.
• Retail boxes of fireworks must not be split.
• All fireworks intended for use by the general public must comply with British Standard BS 7114 Part 2: 1988.
• All fireworks not suitable (as determined by the Regulations) for the use by the general public to bear the warning – “This device must not be sold to, used by, a member of the general public”.

Penalties.

• Failure to comply with these requirements can result in prosecution and a fine of up to £5,000 or a prison sentence of up to six months, or both.
  

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