Fireworks licence

If you sell fireworks you have certain obligations under Isle of Man Legislation:

• You must obtain a licence to store fireworks from the Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading
  
  
• Under the Fireworks Act 2004, you can only sell fireworks during the following periods:
  
  
  • i. The period beginning 25 October and ending 5 November
    
    
  • ii. The period beginning 26 December and ending 31 December

Outside of the selling period, a customer must give notice to the Department of Home Affairs and publish in a Manx newspaper - the date, time and location of the proposed firework display. A receipt from the Department of Home Affairs must be produced before a purchase of fireworks is allowed.

This period restriction does not apply to the sale of a firework to:

• A professional organiser or professional operator of firework displays
  
  
• A person whose trade or business is or includes the supply of fireworks
  
  
• A public authority for a firework display
  
  
• A person who has given notice to the Department of Home Affairs
  
  
• A person who will use the firework as a special effect in the theatre, on film or on television
  
  
• A person authorised by the Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading for the purpose of carrying out tests as to the safety of fireworks
  
  
• Any establishment of the naval, military or air forces of the Crown for a fireworks display

Categories of fireworks

There are four categories of fireworks:

• Category 1 - indoor fireworks - can be supplied to the general public
  
  
• Category 2 and Category 3 - outdoor fireworks - can be supplied to the general public
  
  
• Category 4 - must not be supplied to the general public

Category 4 fireworks can only be supplied to a restricted range of persons and organisations, for example to those arranging professional displays.

Licensing

To ensure public safety all retail premises where fireworks are stored must be licenced by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

Strict conditions are placed on the licence with regards to:

• The types of containers used for storage
  
  
• The maintenance of the fire fighting equipment

More information on the storage of fireworks in retail premises and the conditions placed on licences can be obtained from OFT.

The OFT also enforces the law on the prevention of the sale of:

• Banned fireworks to consumers
  
  
• Fireworks whose construction does not meet safety standards (mainly imported from abroad)
  
  
• Those which are intended for professional displays and must not be sold to the public

A licensing and visiting program ensures that necessary safe storage facilities are in place on retail premises and that no banned fireworks are on sale or that boxes of fireworks are not being split.

Age restrictions

Please note the sale of fireworks is subject to age restrictions.

• You must not supply fireworks to under 18s
  
  
• No person under the age of 18 shall supply a firework to any person
  
  
• No person shall cause or permit a person under 18 to supply a firework to any person

Fireworks do not include caps, cracker snaps, novelty matches, party poppers, serpents, sparklers and throwdowns.

Selling guidelines

Fireworks should be sold in manufacturers’ packed sets. The contents of these must not be taken out of their packs and sold separately. Only some sparklers and some larger individual devices may be sold individually.

Storing and displaying fireworks

Here are some of the key points: 

• Exclude sources of ignition 
  
  
• Stop people smoking anywhere near fireworks 
  
  
• Keep fireworks away from space heaters
  
  
• Avoid handling fireworks unnecessarily 
  
  
• Keep fireworks in closed transport packaging 
  
  
• Don’t decant fireworks into metal dustbins 
  
  
• Don’t store fireworks near articles that could easily catch fire leading to the fire spreading to the fireworks 
  
  
• Don’t store fireworks near other articles that could spread the fire
  
  
• Don’t store with flammable substances such as white spirit or nylon tights and stockings 
  
  
• Don’t store near pallets, cardboard boxes and paper 
  
  
• Don’t store near parked vehicles 
  
  
• Ensure that all fireworks in the shop sales area are kept in a suitable secured display or storage cabinet
  
  
• Ensure all escape routes and fire exits are clear, fire exit doors unlocked and fireworks are not displayed near by
  
  
• Don’t store, either in the shop or stockroom, more than the licensed amount 

Your firework supplier is also a useful source of information and advice.

Fire safety precautions

Your premises should already meet various fire regulations so what follows is extra advice for the period while you are selling fireworks and is not a complete statement of your obligations.

• Don’t store fireworks in passageways or under stairs and keep these clear at all times. Don’t obstruct any doors
  
  
• Keep water-type fire extinguishers handy and make sure they are properly maintained. Buckets of water or sand are useful as a standby
  
  
• Make sure you (and any staff) know how to call the Fire Service quickly. Have a display notice that tells everyone what to do if there is a fire
  
  
• If someone suspects a fire, get everyone out of your shop and call the Fire Service immediately. As soon as the Fire Officer arrives, tell him or her that fireworks are involved and explain where and how they are stored

Be a responsible retailer

As a responsible retailer, you should ensure your customers get essential safety advice.

• Watch the age limit for buying fireworks
  
  
• Do not sell to anyone under 18
  
  
• Anti-social behaviour with fireworks can be a problem