JA2014 - Fireworks 2

The Fireworks 2 activity focussed exclusively on the physical and mechanical risks posed by these products and verified their conformity in terms of marking and labelling requirements.

The hazards related to fireworks are multiple and depend upon the sort of fireworks. Statistics show that spectators are also at risk: the likelihood to get injured as a spectator or as a user of fireworks is almost equal. There have been eighty-one RAPEX notifications in the past three years concerning the use of Fireworks.

This Product Activity was able to benefit from the best practices developed under JA2011. Furthermore, as in the meantime the fireworks market has changed significantly, a priority-setting activity formed a key aspect of the Joint Action.

Objectives

• To develop best practices and exchange experience with carrying out market surveillance activities for fireworks;
• To detect dangerous fireworks on the marketplace and take action against them;
• To develop a priority-list of fireworks to be targeted in future joint actions.

The Activity comprised 6 project meetings and laboratory testing of an estimated 200 products.

The participants

During this Activity, authorities from Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Slovenia  carried out coordinated market surveillance in their national markets, bearing in mind the need to synchronize with New Year or other seasons when the use of fireworks is common.

Final Report

The Final Technical Report of this activity can be downloaded by clicking on the cover page of the report or by clicking here. Very interesting information can be found within this report and it is particularly useful for market surveillance authorities and anybody else interested to know more about safety aspects of fireworks.