More About the BFA and our views

Keep fireworks safe, legal and responsibly enjoyed

About the British Fireworks Association and the UK fireworks industry

  • The British Fireworks Association (BFA) represents businesses operating across the UK’s legal consumer fireworks industry. Our members are committed to ensure that fireworks are supplied and sold safely and responsibly.
  • BFA members import over 95 per cent of the legal consumer fireworks and supply retailers and wholesalers across the UK.
  • Consumer fireworks are enjoyed by around 20 million spectators each year, while the sector supports more than 4,000 full-time and seasonal jobs and generates an estimated £48.6 million in government revenue.
  • The legal fireworks industry is highly regulated, with more than 12 laws, regulations and standards governing the industry covering product safety, sale, age, storage and labelling. Consumer fireworks are subject to strict product standards, including a maximum noise level of 120 dB.
  • The BFA recognises that fireworks can cause genuine concern for some groups of people and animals. We want to work constructively with government, enforcement bodies, campaigners and community groups to encourage responsible use of fireworks and reduce nuisance and antisocial behaviour.
  • At the same time, forthcoming regulation must be proportionate, and evidence led. Responsible consumers and legitimate businesses should not bear the consequences of illegal or irresponsible behaviour.

The role of fireworks in the UK’s cultural and community life

  • For generations, fireworks have brought together families, friends and communities to mark some of the most important moments in Britain’s calendar, including Bonfire Night and New Year’s Eve.
  • But fireworks also play an important role in celebrations including Diwali and Chinese New Year, as well as wedding, family celebrations and community events. For many people, using fireworks responsibly at home or as part of a local community celebration offers an accessible way to participate in those traditions.

Better enforcement, not more regulation

  • The Government is currently consulting on significant changes to fireworks regulation. This includes a proposal to reduce the maximum permitted noise level for consumer fireworks from 120 dB to 110 dB, or even further to 100 dB or 90 dB.
  • We understand why government wants to address concerns about noise and disturbance and are keen to be part of finding practical solutions.
  • But regulatory change should only be introduced where there is clear evidence that it will address the behaviour causing concern, without creating disproportionate consequences elsewhere.
  • The Government estimates that even its proposed 110 dB limit would affect around one-third of consumer firework products currently on the market. Lower limits could have substantially greater consequences for product availability and consumer choice, with industry estimates suggesting that a reduction to 90 dB could effectively remove 90 per cent of existing products from the market, severely undermining the viability of the sector.
  • Many of the behaviours that understandably frustrate communities are already illegal. The Government’s own consultation notes that more than half of respondents to its 2025 polling had witnessed fireworks being set off in a public place or after 1am – both of which are criminal offences.
  • Police, Trading Standards, local authorities and other enforcement bodies need the resources and tools required to tackle illegal sales, misuse and antisocial behaviour effectively. Stronger action should particularly target illegal online sales and unregulated sellers, where consumers may be exposed to products that have not passed the safeguards applying to the legitimate UK market.
  • The choice should not be between inaction and imposing sweeping new restrictions. Stronger enforcement, better education and responsible retailing can address the misuse causing harm without unfairly restricting millions of consumers who use fireworks safely and responsibly.

Unintended consequences of further restrictions and accelerated implementation

  • Removing large numbers of legal and regulated products from the consumer market will not remove demand for fireworks. Poorly designed restrictions risk pushing consumers towards an illegal and unregulated market, where products may be untested, untraceable, improperly stored and significantly more dangerous.
  • Restricting consumer choice could increase demand for professionally organised displays, while also creating an incentive for inexperience or amateur operators to enter the professional market to bypass the new restrictions, potentially creating additional safety and enforcement challenges.
  • Fireworks operate through a complex international manufacturing and supply chain, requiring businesses to plan their stock well in advance of the main UK fireworks season. Our members estimate that products can take around a year to move from production through to supply, while stock can remain within the UK supply chain for as long as three years. A short implementation period for new regulations could therefore leave legitimate businesses holding substantial quantities of stock, which was entirely lawful when ordered and imported, but which they could suddenly be prohibited from selling. This would not only impose significant financial losses on importers or retailers, but also creates practical safety challenge with a safe and lawful solution required to dispose of stock that is no longer compliant.
  • The UK’s existing product safety regime for fireworks has its roots in common European standards. Following Brexit, Great Britain now has its own regulatory framework, while Northern Ireland aligns with relevant EU rules for pyrotechnic products under the Windsor Framework. Any new requirements in Great Britain that diverge from EU markets risk adding cost and complexity for legitimate businesses. This could require products destined for our domestic market to be manufactured to different specifications or undergo separate testing and certification, adding cost and potentially reducing the range of products that manufacturers are willing to supply to the UK.