Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Fireworks

MESSAGE FROM CUMBRIA TRADING STANDARDS AND
CUMBRIA FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE


Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and Cumbria County Council’s Trading Standards are urging people across the county to keep themselves safe whilst they enjoy the festivities this Bonfire night.

Cumbria County Council’s Trading Standards team has also joined forces with CFRS to remind retailers to be vigilant, not sell fireworks to under 18s and to ensure counterfeit fireworks are not being sold.

Underage volunteers will be working with Trading Standards around the county to carry out test purchases for fireworks and the police are laying on extra high-visibility patrols to clamp down on anti-social behaviour.

Remember:
 
  • Only buy fireworks from a legitimate retailer and check they are marked with the British Standard 7114 or marked with a 'CE'.
  • If you are under 18 you can’t buy or use ‘adult’ fireworks and it’s against the law for anyone to set off fireworks between 11.00 pm and 7.00 am, except on certain occasions.
  • Adult fireworks are category 2 and 3 fireworks - they don’t include things like sparklers and party poppers.
     
  • The law says you must not set off or throw fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or other public places.
  • You must not set off fireworks between 11.00 pm and 7.00 am.  The exceptions are: Bonfire Night, when the cut off is midnight New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, when the cut off is 1.00 am.
     
You can only buy fireworks (including sparklers) from registered sellers for private use on these dates:

15 October to 10 November
26 to 31 December
3 days before Diwali and Chinese New Year

At other times you can only buy fireworks from licensed shops.

You can be fined up to £5,000 and/or imprisoned for 3 months for buying or using fireworks illegally.  You could also get an on-the-spot fine of £90. 

If you are concerned about young people in your area being sold fireworks illegally please contact Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06.