The outline of the regulations on pyrotechnic items

Definition - Classification

Pyrotechnic items are officially defined as: items that contain explosive substances designed to produce heat, light, noise, gas, smoke or a combination of these effects by self-sustaining exothermic chemical reactions.

In practice, these are:

Festive fireworks:

• Fireworks from category 1 or F1 and from category 2 or F2;
• Theatrical pyrotechnic items from category T1 of the following generic types: non-electrical ignition Bengal firework and non-electrical ignition smoke generators.

Spectacle fireworks:

• Fireworks from category 3 or F3 and from category 4 or F4;
• Theatrical pyrotechnic items from category T2 as well as theatrical pyrotechnic items from category T1 that are not considered festive fireworks.

Fireworks for technical use and/or signal fireworks:

• Other pyrotechnic items (with the exception of festive and spectacle fireworks) from categories P1 and P2 (e.g. pyrotechnic items for vehicles such as gas generators used in airbags or in seatbelt tensioners).

Marketing - minimum age and specialised knowledge

Pyrotechnic economic operators (manufacturer, importer, distributor) supply pyrotechnic items to the market and must also check the minimum age and/or the required specialist knowledge of buyers.

Economic operators are obliged to verify consumers’ age before providing them with the pyrotechnic items.

Economic operators supply CE pyrotechnic items from category 3 or F3, from category 4 or F4, from category T1 other than those authorised for sales to everyone, and from category T2 and P2 only for professional users, particularly persons with specialised knowledge.

Persons with specialised knowledge

A person with specialised knowledge is a person who has been granted permission by a member state to handle and/or use, within his territory, fireworks from category 4 or F4, theatrical pyrotechnic items from category T2 and/or other pyrotechnic items.

Since 4 July 2013, any person with specialised knowledge must be in possession of a qualification certificate that is issued by a certification body that certifies persons according to the norm NBN EN ISO/IEC 17024 (Article 5 of the Royal Decree of 3 March 2010 on placing pyrotechnic items on the market).

Qualification certificates or similar documents that are issued by the administrative authorities of a Member State of the European Union, shall be recognised as equivalent to the above qualification certificate.

Essential safety requirements

The essential safety requirements that pyrotechnic items must meet in order for these to be placed on the market are set out in Appendix 1 of the Royal Decree of 20 October 2015 on supplying/selling pyrotechnic items (see regulations below).

In addition to the general provisions, specific provisions for festive fireworks, theatrical fireworks and other pyrotechnic items are also mentioned.

Any pyrotechnic item that comply with the harmonised European standards in force are presumed to comply with the essential safety requirements from the aforementioned Appendix. In Belgium, the European standards are available from the Belgian Bureau for Standardisation (https://www.nbn.be/en).

Obligations for economic operators

The obligations for economic operators (manufacturer, importer, distributor) regarding placing pyrotechnic items on the market, are defined in the Royal Decree of 20 October 2015 on placing pyrotechnic items on the market (MB 30.10.2015).

Labelling

Clear and precise labelling is required for every product. Every pyrotechnic item that is placed on the market or intended to be placed on the market, whether or not for a fee, must bear the following information which shall, at least, be provided in the language(s) of the area concerned - in accordance with title 2 of Book VI of the Code of Economic Law.

For “CE” fireworks:

The firework bearing the CE marking must comply with the labelling requirements set out by the Royal Decree of 20 October 2015 on the supply/sales of pyrotechnic items.

The primary information that MUST be provided on the products (or the packaging) includes:

• The CE marking;
• The relevant category;
• The name and type of the pyrotechnic item;
• The contact details of the manufacturer and importer;
• The minimum age limits;
• From 17 October 2016, the registration number in order to facilitate traceability (with the following structure “XXXX-YY-ZZZZ….”) which is issued by the notified body. This number is composed of the following elements:
  • The four-digit identification number from the notified body that issues the CE type examination certificate (XXXX);
  • The category of the pyrotechnic item for which conformity has been attested (e.g. F1 for fireworks from category F1) (YY);
  • The processing number that is used by the notified body for pyrotechnic items (ZZZZ…);
• Instructions for use;
• The production year;
• The minimum distance that must be maintained;
• The net quantity of explosive;
• etc.

FAQ

FAQ Festive fireworks (PDF, 153.55 KB)