Information on Loughborough

Trading Standards and Fireworks

Posted on 29/11/2007
P. Klein

Fireworks from the University display in Loughborough

In the run-up to Bonfire Night the Trading Standards Service checked businesses and their premises in Loughborough, Charnwood and across the rest of the County and found fireworks displayed and stored safely as the law requires.

No illegal fireworks such as bangers, air-bombs or ones designed for professional displays were found on sale to the public. All fireworks seen on sale were labelled in accordance with British Standards and stored correctly to minimise the risk of explosion.

David Bull, Head of Leicestershire Trading Standards, said, "I wish to congratulate the retailers concerned for getting this right and thank them for all the hard work they have put in. This is good news for Leicestershire residents as it means they can buy fireworks in the confident knowledge that high safety standards are being applied and maintained. However with the New Year celebrations approaching, they should remember, if they are planning to use fireworks, to do so responsibly and to handle them with care, always following the instructions given with the labelling.

Although the main time of year for firework sales has ended, many traders store fireworks and sell them again for these celebrations. However sales can only legally take place from Boxing Day.

If fireworks are seen on sale before 26 December, it should be reported to Trading Standards by contacting Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

Further Information:

Fireworks must be stored safely in accordance with the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005, and the accompanying Approved Code of Practice.

The Fireworks Regulations 2004 specify: Category 3 fireworks (those which are permitted for supply to the public) must not produce a "bang louder than 120 decibels. This effectively outlaws air-bombs. (Category 3 bangers were already prohibited by the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997).

the general public is not allowed to possess Category 4 fireworks, which may be used for professional displays only unless a trader applies for, and is granted, a licence to supply fireworks all year round, that trader may supply fireworks for the following periods only:-

  • on the first day of the Chinese New Year and the 3 days preceding it.
  • on the day of Diwali and the 3 days preceding it.
  • during the period commencing 15 October and ending 10 November (in practice this will almost always capture the Diwali period).
  • during the period commencing 26 December and ending 31 December.

3. The British Standard applicable to the categorisation, labelling and safety of fireworks is BS: 7114