How old must you be to SELL fireworks?

[black arts]

I have recently seized a large quantity of fireworks (nearly a ton gross weight)
from a sixteen year old, his intension was to sell the fireworks, but what is the
 minimum age that you can sell fireworks to the general public.
I am fully aware it is eighteen to purchase.

[Andy Cole]

Eighteen to sell and to buy!!

I work in a shop, we must also apply to our local council each year to obtaina licence to sell them, this entitles us to sell them in the three weeks before November 5th, between christmas and new year and a few days around the chinese new year aswell as one other religious festival but Im afraid I can't recall exactly which one, to sell them any other time you must apply for a seperate license which will cost in the region of £500!! On top of this there are strict regulations regarding storage and displaying them, the local council will also make an unannounced inspection!

I can get you more information if you need it but hopefully this will help!

Andy

There are also restrictions on the amount you can keep

[black arts]

Thanks for your answer Andy, I beleive it should be eighteen
but I am looking for the legislation, to quote.

[Andy Cole]

Have a look at

www.dti.gov.uk/fireworks/retailers.htm

It may be of some use!

Andy

[messy]

Black arts. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I am intrigued as to how you came to 'seize' a tonne of fireworks from this juvenille but are uncertain as the the legislation which applies.

In what capacity did you seize these goods?

[Wiz]

I owned a large firework retail company up to two years ago. The minimum age for selling fireworks is definitely 18 years old. The last time I looked at the rules, a firework 'user' was allowed to store up to 2Kg of fireworks indefinitely and store any amount for a short period (I think it is two weeks). A seller must register the selling premises with the local authority and has strict guidelines as to how much can be displayed for sale and stored on the premises. As Andy said above there is one licence for selling during defined periods and another for all year sales. Other firework stores, other than retail selling premises, are covered by a range of licences ( we had two category E licences that allowed us to store 7 tonne in metal containers that were sited at least 200m away from public paths and buildings). The local Trading Standards office is the licensing authority for selling and most storage issues and they are normally very efficient in enforcing the rules!
A trick many firework retailers use for of getting around the storage rules is to leave tonnes of fireworks in a large van parked somewhere because then they are not actually 'in storage' but 'in transit'!
Please also note that fireworks are available in various categories. category 1 is indoor fireworks, category 2 is outdoor -viewing distance 5m, category 3 is outdoor viewing distance 25m and category 4 is outdoor professional use only. The punishments for possessing category 4 fireworks when a non-firework professional are now extremely strong.
The other religious festival Andy couldn't remember is Diwali (Asian).

[black arts]

Black arts. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I am intrigued as to how you came to 'seize' a tonne of fireworks from this juvenille but are uncertain as the the legislation which applies.

In what capacity did you seize these goods?

If you are aware that a juvenile has one ton  (gross weight) of fireworks, can you walk away, I have used the Fire Brigades bugdet to purchase a ISO container, you'll find
them safety stored there.

[Wiz]

Black arts. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I am intrigued as to how you came to 'seize' a tonne of fireworks from this juvenille but are uncertain as the the legislation which applies.

In what capacity did you seize these goods?

If you are aware that a juvenile has one ton  (gross weight) of fireworks, can you walk away, I have used the Fire Brigades bugdet to purchase a ISO container, you'll find
them safety stored there.

Black Arts, I hope your container is licensed for the storage of fireworks. One ton of fireworks would need to be stored well away from buildings and wherever the public have access. I would advise you contact Trading Standards urgently. My experience is that they have access to licensed secure stores for just these sort of instances.

[kurnal]

Blimey Wizz bang is there no end to your talents?

You master fire alarm panels and know how to put on a firework show into the bargain. If Matron gets to hear of this she may invite you into her boudoir for a private display.

It would be interesting to know how last years new fireworks regulations have affected the number of complaints, injuries and  offences. Guy Fawkes celebrations started in September and are still going on round here and during the peak week there seemed to be more breaches of the new curfew than there ever were before the curfew was in place. And everybody and his dog seems to be selling fireworks these days.

But I am probably being cynical. Bit like with the new licensing Law- 24 hour drinking seems to have led to a whole new breed of low budget booze shops- one in sheffield in a secure portacabin on a main road advertises "24 hour booze". Cant believe that this was what the legislators intended.

[Wiz]

Kurnal Old Chap, How nice to hear from you again!

I've been wandering around this place for weeks looking for my old mates, thinking you've gone on a Saga holiday without telling me. Even Lucky is noticeable by his abscence - you could always rely on him to add a totally surprising comment to every discussion.

I think you got it the wrong way around in your opinion of me - In truth, there is actually no START to MY talents! (my customers can confirm this)

I got out of the fireworks business just after the new legislation came in, basically because I thought the 'boom' (pun intended) was over. It was nothing to do with the legislation but all to do with the increased competition. As you say, everyone seems to be selling fireworks these days and not surprisingly when you consider that the 'mark up' can be up to 400% if you import them from China yourself! A proper firework company has a lot of expensive overheads with storage and licensing costs. The Nov 5th and New Year selling merchants, who often ignore the rules, are the ones that make the 'real' money. It's a bit like the fire alarm business - those who know what they are doing are forever having to justifying their charges, whilst those who haven't got a clue offer a cheap price and rubbish end product.

The new firework legislation had some very sensible ideas with curfews and expensive licenses for those who sold all year around. However, anyone can sell fireworks during other defined periods and can't be stopped from doing so if they 'register' with the local authority and comply with the storage requirements. The curfews are also o.k. but catching kids who fire the odd 'Sonic Armageddon Tank Buster' after the curfew are still difficult to catch and punish.

I've got a new 'extra sideline' going now which I am keeping secret from all you other residents in this home for the slightly bewildered. (it is to do with UFO's)
(stop it Wiz - you can't keep any secrets can you)

[black arts]

Black arts. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I am intrigued as to how you came to 'seize' a tonne of fireworks from this juvenille but are uncertain as the the legislation which applies.

In what capacity did you seize these goods?

If you are aware that a juvenile has one ton  (gross weight) of fireworks, can you walk away, I have used the Fire Brigades bugdet to purchase a ISO container, you'll find
them safety stored there.

Black Arts, I hope your container is licensed for the storage of fireworks. One ton of fireworks would need to be stored well away from buildings and wherever the public have access. I would advise you contact Trading Standards urgently. My experience is that they have access to licensed secure stores for just these sort of instances.

Hi Wiz

Container is exempt from licence, it complies with MSER, I am the enforcing authority
no need to contact TS

[jayjay]

How did you manage to transport the ton of fire works?
last time I looked into this I needed to employ a specialst contractor with an approved vehicle

[black arts]

HSE allow me up 500kgs net powder weight before being plated

[messy]

Black Arts

What I meant in my previous post was, under what remit - as a fire authority-did you seize these goods?

I would have thought this was a local authority and/or trading standards function

What will happen to them now? Destruction or E-bay!?

[black arts]

Black Arts

What I meant in my previous post was, under what remit - as a fire authority-did you seize these goods?

I would have thought this was a local authority and/or trading standards function

What will happen to them now? Destruction or E-bay!?

I work for a Metropolitan Borough therefore control storage of fireworks not TS
Destruction can be voluntary or face court procedings.
Seize under Consumer Protection Act