With Bonfire Night fast approaching, I am writing to urge safe fireworks use by your readers and also to inform them of an important piece of legislation coming out of the European Union.

As your readers get ready to celebrate this annual spectacular, their representatives in the European Parliament have been working hard to ensure the fireworks on sale in the UK and in Europe are of a high and consistent safety standard.

Importantly, this piece of legislation rightly leaves national governments to control their own laws on issues such as noise, the size of fireworks, and safety rules at public displays.

The EU Pyrotechnics Directive is, to my mind, a highly sensible piece of European legislation that seeks to safeguard consumers and professionals against substandard fireworks (and other pyrotechnic equipment) by harmonising minimum safety rules across the Union.

Since fireworks can be easily transported from one EU member state to another and,1 given that many of the fireworks imported into Europe are from China where safety standards may lag behind those in many European countries, it is thought the introduction of minimum standards throughout the EU will help reduce accidents.

The directive sets out essential safety requirements with which manufacturers will have to comply.

These concern instructions as to the safe handling and storage of fireworks and their physical and chemical stability, among others.

Exporters of fireworks will also have to ensure fireworks are properly labelled in the official language(s) of the country in which they will be sold. Fireworks which meet the safety requirements will receive a CE mark, guaranteeing their free circulation in the EU.

For information, contact my office or visit my website, robertevansmep.net. During the past weeks I have visited fire stations across my constituency and have heard all too many horror stories of how bonfire night can go wrong.

Please be safe this November 5.

ROBERT EVANS
Labour MEP for London