What if…. I want to sell fireworks?

Each year around this time, everywhere from convenience stores to Post Offices will be clearing space to make room for fireworks.

But did you know you need permission from your local council or Fire Authority to store them? What’s more, permission will only be given if your premises are suitable for the storage of fireworks, and you can only sell certain types of fireworks and store in specific quantities - so it pays to know the rules if you’re planning on making a bang this year.

Have I got the space to sell fireworks?

The first thing you need to do if you intend to sell fireworks is identify where the realistic potential storage areas for fireworks in your store are. By law, you must have a dedicated lockable cabinet in the sales area and a designated lockable storage room or other enclosed area elsewhere on site.

You must also apply for permission to store fireworks from your local trading standards service or fire authority. Please note that some authorities operate a minimum of eight-week turnaround time for new applications, so submitting by the end of August might be required if you aim to have bangers on sale for firework’s night.

If permission to store fireworks is granted, then you will be able to sell them for four key periods:

 •  First day of Chinese New Year and three days prior

 •  Diwali and three days prior

 •  Between 15 October and 10 November

 •  Between 26 and 31 December

If you wish to sell fireworks outside of these periods, you must contact your local trading standards service for an application form. There is a fee of up to £500 payable for the resulting licence.

Where should I store fireworks?

If you’re planning to store your fireworks externally, any storage lock-ups or similar must be well away from parked cars but also other hazards such as pallets or boxes. It may sound obvious, but smoking is obviously prohibited around storage lock-ups as well.

For internal storage, a locked stockroom is the preferable option, with all of its electrical equipment and hazards removed. The area should be well lit, but also free of all flammable materials.

For the shop floor itself, ensure you keep fireworks away from aerosols, and make sure any cabinets they are kept in do not have electrical components in any way (such as lighting). An A3 size statutory notice should also be displayed in store informing your customers about the regulations around fireworks.

How many fireworks can I store?

The following maximum amounts are permitted for storage on licensed premises:

 •  Sales Area – 12.5kg in a small shop, rising to 75kg in large superstores. Note: you must not put glass showcases containing fireworks in your shop window

 •  Each cabinet in the sales area must not contain more than 12.5kg and any container used for keeping fireworks must not contain other articles

 •  Non-public areas – 250kg (less the amount in the sales area), however in premises which contain or adjoin domestic or sleeping accommodation this is reduced to 75kg

Which types of fireworks can I sell?

If you choose a reputable supplier, then the fireworks you get into stock should all be perfectly legal. Note that fireworks pre-packed in selection boxes or packs must not be split up or sold individually. Only fireworks that carry the CE, UKCA or UKNI mark correctly labelled with details of the manufacturer and importer can legally be supplied to consumers. 

Who can I sell fireworks to?

You shouldn’t sell adult fireworks or sparklers to anyone under the age of eighteen. Adult fireworks includes all fireworks, except party poppers, throwdowns, caps and novelty matches, which may be sold to 16-year-olds.

New and existing staff must be properly trained and regularly updated on how to sell fireworks. Further guidance on how to put in place effective policy on preventing underage sales is available as part of the ACS Assured Advice on Preventing Underage Sales at www.acs.org.uk/advice.