Editing Fireworks (section)

=== European Union ===
{{Main|Fireworks policy in the European Union}}
[[File:Fireworks @ Eurockéennes de Belfort 2013 (9381027087).jpg|thumb|Fireworks at [[Eurockéennes]] 2013 in [[Belfort]], France]]
The [[European Union]]'s policy is aimed at harmonising and standardising the [[Member state of the European Union|EU member states]]' policies on the regulation of production, transportation, sale, consumption and overall safety of fireworks across Europe.<ref name="Brandpunt">{{Cite news |url=http://www.uitzendinggemist.net/aflevering/247898/Brandpunt_Reporter.html |title=Wereldkampioen vuurwerk |author1=Eliza Bergman |author2=Dirk Bayens |work=Brandpunt Reporter |publisher=[[KRO-NCRV]] |date=2 January 2014 |access-date=26 December 2017 |language=nl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226130602/http://www.uitzendinggemist.net/aflevering/247898/Brandpunt_Reporter.html |archive-date=26 December 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Belgium ====
{{main|Fireworks policy in Belgium}}
In [[Belgium]], each municipality can decide how to regulate fireworks. During [[New Year's Eve]], lighting fireworks without a licence is allowed in 35% of the [[List of municipalities of the Flemish Region|308 Flemish municipalities]], in around 50% a permit from the [[burgemeester]] ([[mayor]]) is required, and around 14% of municipalities have banned consumer fireworks altogether.<ref name="OVV">{{Cite web|date=1 December 2017|title=Veiligheidsrisico's jaarwisseling|url=https://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/uploads/phase-docs/1679/f73dc5c1f5e020172659-publicatie-veiligheidsrisico-s-jaarwisseling-interactief-171127.pdf|access-date=25 December 2017|publisher=[[Dutch Safety Board]]|language=nl}}</ref>

==== Finland ====
[[File:Ilotulitus 2014 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Fireworks on 30 August 2014, in [[Tampere]], Finland]]
In [[Finland]] those under 18 years old haven't been allowed to buy any fireworks since 2009. Safety goggles are required. The use of fireworks is generally allowed on the evening and night of New Year's Eve, 31 December. In some municipalities of Western Finland it is allowed to use fireworks without a fire station's permission on the last weekend of August. With the fire station's permission, fireworks can be used year-round.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}}

==== Germany ====
In [[Germany]], amateurs over 18 years old are allowed to buy and ignite fireworks of Category F2 for several hours on 31 December and 1 January; each German municipality is authorised to limit the number of hours this may last locally.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Daniela Siebert|date=27 December 2017|title=Sicher durch die Silvesternacht|language=de|work=Deutschlandfunk|url=http://www.deutschlandfunk.de/feuerwerk-sicher-durch-die-silvesternacht.735.de.html?dram:article_id=406860|url-status=dead|access-date=29 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229171952/http://www.deutschlandfunk.de/feuerwerk-sicher-durch-die-silvesternacht.735.de.html?dram:article_id=406860|archive-date=29 December 2017}}</ref> The sale of Category F3 and F4 fireworks to consumers is prohibited.<ref name="OVV"/> Lighting fireworks is forbidden near churches, hospitals, retirement homes and wooden or [[Thatching|thatch]]-roofed buildings.<ref name="OVV"/> All major German cities organise professional fireworks shows.<ref name="OVV"/>

In addition to the previously existing regulations, there was a nationwide ban on the sale of category F2 fireworks to consumers on New Year's Eve 2020/2021 during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Germany|COVID-19 pandemic]], with the aim to relieve the burden on hospitals by reducing the number of emergencies due to injuries caused by fireworks on New Year's Eve.<ref>{{cite news |title=German fireworks-makers say ban due to COVID is catastrophic for industry |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-fireworks-makers-say-ban-due-covid-is-catastrophic-industry-2021-12-02/ |work=Reuters |date=2 December 2021}}</ref> On [[2024–2025 German New Year's Eve pyrotechnics incidents|the 2024–2025 New Year's eve and day]], five were killed and 100+ were injured due to unusually intense widespread criminality and negligence.

==== Italy ====
In 2015, the Italian town of [[Collecchio]] mandated silent fireworks,<ref name="lonelyplanet.com"/> being among the first to make the switch without losing the beauty of the visual displays.

==== Netherlands ====
{{Main|Fireworks policy in the Netherlands}}
[[File:Veiligheidsrisico's Jaarwisseling.webm|thumb|2017 [[Dutch Safety Board]] report on fireworks risks (English subtitles)]]
In the [[Netherlands]], fireworks cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 16. It may only be sold during a period of three days before a new year. If one of these days is a Sunday, that day is excluded from sale and sale may commence one day earlier.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Article 2.3.5 of the Besluit van 22 januari 2002, houdende nieuwe regels met betrekking tot consumenten- en professioneel vuurwerk (Vuurwerkbesluit) Decision of January 22, 2002, laying down new rules on consumer and professional fireworks (Fireworks Decision)|url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0013360/geldigheidsdatum_20-04-2009|access-date=20 April 2009|date=22 January 2002|work=Vuurwerkbesluit|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501211547/http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0013360/geldigheidsdatum_20-04-2009|archive-date=1 May 2011|url-status=dead}} [https://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwetten.overheid.nl%2FBWBR0013360%2Fgeldigheidsdatum_20-04-2009&sl=nl&tl=en&history_state0= Google Translate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322141344/http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwetten.overheid.nl%2FBWBR0013360%2Fgeldigheidsdatum_20-04-2009&sl=nl&tl=en&history_state0= |date=22 March 2017 }}</ref>

==== Republic of Ireland ====
{{Main|Fireworks policy in the Republic of Ireland}}
In the [[Republic of Ireland]], fireworks are illegal and possession is punishable by huge fines and/or prison. However, around [[Halloween]] a large amount of fireworks are set off, due to the ease of being able to purchase from [[Northern Ireland]].

==== Sweden ====
In [[Sweden]], fireworks can only be purchased and used by people 18 or older. [[Fire cracker|Firecracker]]s used to be banned, but are now allowed under [[Fireworks policy in the European Union|European Union fireworks policy]].