Why doesn the government pass laws to regulate fireworks?
All fireworks sold to the general public must comply with the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No. 2294). These Regulations, among other things; – ban supply of aerial shells, aerial maroons, shells-in-mortar and maroons-in-mortar, bangers, mini-rockets and fireworks of erratic flight (e.g. squibs, jumping crackers, helicopters) to the public; – ban supply to the public of some large and powerful fireworks (Note: these fireworks can continue to be supplied to people who are in the business as a professional organiser or professional operator of firework displays); – set 18 as the minimum age for purchasing fireworks (apart from certain fireworks such as caps, cracker snaps and party poppers which can be supplied to persons over 16); – require that all fireworks allowed for sale to the general public comply with the British Standard (BS 7114); Local authority trading standards officers enforce the Regulations. Suppliers, including shopkeepers, who breach the requirements can
