Fireworks policy in Belgium
The sales of fireworks in Belgium is federally regulated. Since 5 July 2017, the sale of European category F3 fireworks[1] to non-professionals is a criminal offence; the non-professional customer needs to be at least 12 years old for category F1 and at least 16 years old for category F2; the vendor is required to verify the customer's age.[2]
As of 2017, Belgium does not have a federal policy on the lighting of fireworks, although such regulations have been announced in 2015.[3]
Flanders
[edit]In Flanders, the Gemeentedecreet (Municipal Decree) gives the 308 municipalities of the Flemish Region the authority to introduce a required licence for lighting fireworks, or to prohibit the ignition of fireworks on certain locations.[3] In almost all Flemish municipalities, an individual can only get a licence in special circumstances (such as weddings). During New Year's Eve, lighting fireworks without a licence is allowed in 35% of the municipalities, in around 50% a permit from the burgemeester (mayor) is required, and around 14% of municipalities have banned consumer fireworks altogether.[3]
In many major cities, professional fireworks shows are held, attended by tens of thousands of people.[3]
Wallonia
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Brussels
[edit]Due to measures addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium, the Brussels Capital Region and the City of Brussels temporarily prohibited the use (and the Region also the possession) of fireworks in public places and open-air private properties (gardens, terraces, balconies) from 23 December 2021 to 9 January 2022. The sale of fireworks was still permitted throughout Belgium.[4]
Eupen-Malmedy
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See also
[edit]- Fireworks law in the United Kingdom
- Fireworks policy in the European Union
- Fireworks policy in the Netherlands
- Fireworks policy in the Republic of Ireland
References
[edit]- ^ "Making fireworks in the EU safer". European Commission. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
Category F1: Age limit 12 years - fireworks which present a very low hazard and negligible noise level and which are intended for use in confined areas, including fireworks which are intended for use inside domestic buildings; Category F2: Age limit 16 years - fireworks which present a low hazard and low noise level and which are intended for outdoor use in confined areas; Category F3: Age limit 18 years - fireworks which present a medium hazard, which are intended for outdoor use in large open areas and whose noise level is not harmful to human health; Category F4: Age limit 18 years - fireworks which present a high hazard, which are intended for use only by persons with specialist knowledge and whose noise level is not harmful to human health.
- ^ "Koninklijk besluit van 20 oktober 2015 betreffende het op de markt aanbieden van pyrotechnische artikelen / Arrêté royal concernant la mise à disposition sur le marché d'articles pyrotechniques" [Royal order concerning the supplying of pyrotechnic articles on the market]. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Veiligheidsrisico's jaarwisseling" (PDF). Dutch Safety Board. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
- ^ "Fireworks prohibited in Brussels". brussels.be. City of Brussels. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
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