Summary of OPSS Consultation Fireworks and Pyrotechnics in the UK
In July 2026 OPSS launched a consultation ‘Fireworks and pyrotechnics in the UK’ which closes on 7 October.
The consultation aims to address concerns regarding noise, safety risks and distress that fireworks can cause as well as public complaints, parliamentary debates, and petitions calling for stronger controls due to the negative impacts on neighbourhood safety, vulnerable people, and animals.
OPSS noted the consultation will also work in coordination with the recent proposals within the product safety framework consultation in addressing online marketplaces’ role in online sales of pyrotechnics.
OPSS are seeking views on proposals to:
- restrict the availability of noisier fireworks to the general public, with louder products only available to professional users
- add products deemed to be carrying unacceptable risks to the list of existing banned pyrotechnic products set out in regulation 33 of the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 (as amended) (“the 2015 Regulations”)
- review the regulations for fireworks and pyrotechnic products currently classified as lower risk to better reflect the different levels of risk they pose
According to OPSS polling, public feeling towards fireworks is strengthening with public display fireworks remaining popular but also negative impacts from fireworks becoming more common knowledge.
- In 2025 OPSS research, 71 percent of respondents said their dislike of fireworks noise came from the disturbance to peace and quiet.
- In 2025, over half of respondents had personally witnessed fireworks being set off in a public place or after 1am, both of which are criminal offences.
Read more on gov.uk here.
Consultation Questions
Current Framework
Fireworks are categorised into 4 classes: small indoor items (F1) with a minimum buying age of 16, garden fireworks for outdoor home use (F2), larger display scale fireworks requiring substantial space (F3), and professional only fireworks that can only be used by trained operators/specialists /fireworks professionals (F4).
Pyrotechnic products are classified for their safety and use.
- P1 products include novelty items like smoke bombs. These products cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18.
- P2 products include those used for industrial purposes and can only be supplied to those with specialist knowledge.
Some dangerous products and high risk fireworks and pyrotechnics are banned from sale to the general public. These fireworks and pyrotechnic articles are set out in regulation 33 of the 2015 Regulations. These products can still be supplied to ‘persons with specialist knowledge’.
The storage of more than 5kg of fireworks must be licensed and are permitted to sell F2 and F3 fireworks during traditional festival periods and F1 products year-round.
Retailers must obtain an additional selling licence to sell F2 and F3 fireworks year-round.
Proposals
Proposal 1- Addition of F2 and F3 Products to Regulation 33 of the 2015 Regulations
- OPSS are seeking views on the safety and security risks from fireworks, including views on F2 and F3 category products specifically.
- The intention is to add products to the list of existing banned products set out in regulation 33 of the 2015 Regulations.
- These products would only be available for sale to those with specialist knowledge/fireworks professionals.
Proposal 2 – Christmas Crackers and Review of F1 and P1 Restrictions
- Currently P1s must not be sold to anyone under the age of 18 and F1s must not be sold to anyone under 16 years of age with the exception of Christmas crackers (F1 firework) with a minimum buying age of 12.
- Christmas Crackers: OPSS propose to remove the age restriction for Christmas crackers all together, removing the need for age checks in retail → This could lead to UK Internal Market implications as the EU age limit of 12 years old would still apply in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.
- OPSS are also interested in wider views on whether requirements relating to any other specific F1 or P1 pyrotechnics should either be increased or decreased.
Proposal 3 – Firework Noise
OPSS note that products made available on the market as lower noise fireworks but their “popularity has been unclear”.
New Zealand introduced a 90 decibel limit for their consumer fireworks in 2008 along with reducing the number of days they can be sold and raising the legal age of purchase from 14 to 18. However there has been difficulty in effectively defining a 90 decibel limit in legislation.
Factors such as wind direction or physical structure, along with psychological elements must also be considered in assessment of noise pollution.
- OPSS intend to restrict the availability of noisier fireworks to the general public (category F1, F2 and F3) and reducing the perceived noise of consumer fireworks by approximately 50 percent so that the permitted decibel level is decreased from 120 to 110 dB (A,imp).
- The aim would be the reduction of perceived noise of consumer fireworks with a lesser impact on businesses and the products available for consumers to enjoy responsibly affecting one-third of current fireworks products available to consumers.
- Professional public displays would continue to use fireworks with loud effects, because these events are publicised and far less likely to take place illegally or during unsociable hours.
Timelines
- OPSS intend to make these changes via a Statutory Instrument as soon as parliamentary time allows following the consultation with the aim of working in partnership with various stakeholders including retailers to minimise costs and disruption to supply chains.
- OPSS propose a 6-month transitional period for any proposals taken forward from the point of when the law is changed. Is this sufficient?
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