Explosives and festive fireworks

Regulations on explosives

The supply on the market, manufacture, storage, holding, sale, transport and use of explosives is subject to regulations. These are based on the following texts:

• the Law of 28 May 1956 on explosive substances and those susceptible to deflagrate, and on devices loaded with them;
• the Code of Economic Law;
• the Royal Decree of 23 September 1958 on the general regulations on the manufacture, storage, holding, sale, transport and use of explosives;
• the Royal Decree of 3 March 2010 on placing pyrotechnic items to the market;
• the Royal Decree of 20 October 2015 on placing pyrotechnic items on the market;
• the Ministerial Decree of 7 June 2013 classifying pyrotechnic items;
• the Royal Decree of 12 April 2016 on placing explosives for civil use to market and the corresponding checks;
• the Royal Decree of 12 July 2016 on road or rail transport of flammable substances.

Definition and categorisation of explosives

Explosives are products which may be used for their explosive, combustible or pyrotechnic properties and are classified into one of the following classes and categories:

• Category A: Explosive substances
  • 1^st category: black powder;
  • 2^nd category: dynamite and similar explosives;
  • 3^rd category: smokeless powder;
  • 4^th category: flame retardant explosives and similar explosives;
  • 5^th category: damped nitrocellulose with a nitrogen level of over 12.6%;
  • 6^th category: damped nitrocellulose with a nitrogen level of no more than 12.6%.
• Category B: Ammunition
  • 1^st category: detonators, and similar items and ammunition;
  • 2^nd category: ammunition with detonators;
  • 3^rd category: ammunition without detonators;
  • 4^th category: phosphorous ammunition;
  • 5^th category: detonating cord;
  • 6^th category: safety ammunition.
• Category C: Fireworks
  • Group a: spectacle fireworks and accessories;
  • Group b: festive fireworks;
  • Group c: fireworks for technical use and/or signal fireworks:

Whether explosives are used for entertainment, industrial or military purposes, they must necessarily comply with strict safety requirements and European standards. The General Directorate on Quality and Safety of the FPS Economy, SMEs, Self-Employed and Energy maintains supervision of the application and control of these standards.

Placing pyrotechnic items on market

An overview of the regulations for festive fireworks

Collection and storage of festive fireworks