The Fireworks Act 2003 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, granted royal assent on 18 September 2003. It was the first such act since those of 1951 and 1964 and is notable as the enabling legislation for the Fireworks Regulations 2004.[1] It wholly or partly repealed six acts from between 1974 and 2001 and amended a sentence of the Explosives Act 1875, with the latter's provision (section 80) against throwing or discharging a firework in a street or public place remaining in force until the present day.[2]
The Fireworks Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/1836)[3] impose restrictions on the importation, supply and possession of fireworks in England, Wales and Scotland. The regulations were made under the act.[4] In particular, the regulations introduced the following measures:
a ban on the use of fireworks late at night (after 11pm) – except for New Year's Eve, the night of Diwali and the first day of Chinese New Year – where fireworks may be used until 1am (on Guy Fawkes Night fireworks may be used until 12 midnight);[5]
a ban on persons under the age of 18 possessing fireworks in public places;[6]
a ban on the sale of fireworks outside certain "traditional" or minority-cultural periods (such as those listed in the first bullet), unless suppliers are licensed; and,[6]
a requirement that importers of fireworks notify HM Revenue and Customs of the storage destination of their imports - the intention being to prevent illegal distribution and dangerous storage.[6]
Some of these regulations are not applicable to Scotland, and none of them applies in Northern Ireland, which has its own, stricter regulations in place. The regulations revoked the Fireworks Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/3085) which introduced, as emergency measures, prohibitions on the possession of fireworks by those under the age of 18 and the possession of category 4 fireworks by non-professionals. UK emergency regulations are usually temporary in nature – lasting no more than one year after the date of coming into force.
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