Explanatory note

These Regulations repeal previous regulations and make provisions to prohibit the possession, purchase or use of certain categories of fireworks except under licence, issued by the Secretary of State to whom application shall be made in writing. A licence fee will be payable (Regulations 4, 6, 7 and 10). Fireworks exempt from the general prohibition are described (Regulation 9).

The Regulations prohibit the possession, purchase, sale or use of fireworks of erratic flight and mini-rockets, bangers or air bombs but provide an exception for supplies to any person for use, in the course of a trade or business of his, for special effects purposes in the theatre, on film or on television (Regulations 4 and 5).

The Regulations also require specified fireworks and assemblies to be marked with the words “This device must not be sold to, or used by, a member of the general public”. Packets of sparklers must be marked with the words “Warning: not to be given to children under 5 years of age” (Regulation 8).

The Regulations provide a sliding scale of fees for the issue of fireworks licences (Regulation 10 and Schedule 3).

Finally, the Regulations prohibit retailers from selling any firework which they have removed, caused to be removed or know to have been removed from a primary pack or a selection pack.

Copies of British Standard 7114, and the British Standards referred to in it, are available from any of the sales outlets operated by the British Standards Institution (BSI), by post from BSI at 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL or from any of the bookshops operated by the Stationery Office Limited.