Ensure your products are safe
Fireworks - information for suppliers, retailers and display event organisers
Fireworks are available throughout the year from shops licensed to supply them. They become widely available at certain times of the year, mainly a few days before New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, and in the weeks leading up to Bonfire Night on 5 November.
If you supply or sell fireworks or if you organise display events you must be aware of your responsibilities.
Your responsibilities as a firework supplier
All fireworks that are to be sold to the public must comply with British Standard BS 7114.
Category 3 fireworks must not exceed 120 decibels.
Category 4 display fireworks that are not intended for supply to consumers must be marked accordingly.
If you import fireworks, you must supply information at the point of entry to ensure that fireworks are legally stored and distributed. This information should be given to HM Revenue & Customs and will then be sent to the relevant authorities responsible for storage licences so they can check on deliveries.
Licensing authorities can ask to see information relating to transactions of fireworks exceeding 50 kilograms of net explosive content.
Your responsibilities if you sell fireworks retail
If you want to sell fireworks, you need to register your shop or obtain a licence from your local authority. The penalties for not registering or being licensed are a fine of up to £5,000, a prison sentence of up to three months, or both.
It is illegal for retailers to sell caps, cracker snaps, novelty matches, party poppers, serpents and throwdowns to anyone who is under 16 and to sell all other fireworks to anyone who is under 18 - it is recommended that proof of age is sought.
You must display a large notice reminding customers about the law with regard to underage sales and possession.
You can only sell fireworks that conform to British Standard BS 7114 and that meet certain noise conditions. They must have BS 7114 printed on the box.
Boxes of fireworks must not be split and sold separately.
Unless you have a special licence, you can only sell fireworks during the weeks leading up to Bonfire Night, New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year.
Download the retailers' guide to selling fireworks from the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) website (PDF, 134K) - Opens in a new window and download the retailers' warning poster from the BIS website (PDF, 94K) - Opens in a new window.
Subjects covered in this guide
- Your legal responsibilities
- Products covered by specific safety regulations
- Fireworks - information for suppliers, retailers and display event organisers
- Safety regulations for children's products
- Safety concerns in the early stages of design
- Packaging concerns
- Product liability and taking out insurance
- Where to get more help
CLG Helpline
0303 444 0000
Actions
- Fireworks resources and safety codes on the BIS website - Opens in a new window
- Fireworks licence forms and guidance on the HSE website - Opens in a new window
- Fireworks storage risk assessment and guidance for retail premises on the HSE website - Opens in a new window
- Download selling fireworks guidance for retailers from the BIS website (PDF, 134K) - Opens in a new window
