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]

Fireworks show in Mechelen, 21 July 2013.

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

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

Brussels

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]

See also

References
  1. "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.
  2. "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.
  3. "Veiligheidsrisico's jaarwisseling" (PDF). Dutch Safety Board. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  4. "Fireworks prohibited in Brussels". brussels.be. City of Brussels. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
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