Fireworks & UK Law
The law covering fireworks in the UK can be very complex and most of it doesn’t apply to the general public. But here we have listed some of the most frequently asked questions with regards to fireworks and the law.
A. Yes you can legally buy fireworks all year round, however the company you are buying from must have a licence to sell all year. You should also note that you are only legally permitted to store up to 50kg of 1.4g Fireworks for 21 days and 5kg of 1.3g Fireworks for 3 days.
A. You can buy Category 1, 2 and 3 fireworks. Category 1 fireworks are classed as indoor fireworks. Category 2 fireworks are those which are suited to smaller back gardens and have a minimum safety distance of 5 or 8 meters. Category 3 fireworks are suited to larger gardens and displays and have a minimum safety distance of 25 meters.
A. These are called shells in mortars, they were banned from sale to the general public in 1997 after a few fatalities. They are now classified as Category 4 fireworks. If you are offered these you should contact your local trading standards office immediately, they are highly dangerous if loaded or fired incorrectly.
A. Yes and No. You can use fireworks every day of the year between the hours of 7am and 11pm, except on Bonfire Night (midnight), Diwali, New Year, and Chinese New Year (1am).
A. No, category 4 fireworks are reserved for professional display operators.
A. No, they are not available to the general public in the UK.
You can view the most resent legislation and other interesting information on the DTI website.