In the lead up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve, ACS is urging retailers to ensure that they are aware of products that have age restrictions on them.
Many convenience stores now sell fireworks in the run up to New Year's Eve. Selling fireworks is a highly regulated area, so you will need to know exactly how to store, display and sell them correctly to remain on the right side of the law. If you do not have a fireworks licence, you can only sell fireworks between December 26th-31st. To store fireworks, you should keep them in their transport boxes sealed with tape and in a dedicated store room or in a fire resistant store cupboard, container or cabinet. They should be stored in a dry area, away from light fittings, electric supplies and flammable items.
All fireworks carry an age restriction, the vast majority of adult fireworks and sparklers cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18. ACS recommends that you adopt the ‘Challenge 25’ policy when selling fireworks.
You should only stock fireworks that comply with European safety standards and carry the CE mark. In addition, only fireworks which are correctly labelled with the details of the manufacturer and importer can be sold to consumers.
ACS has produced Assured Advice Guides to support retailers with ‘Preventing Underage Sales’ and ‘Selling Fireworks’. These guides detail the laws and guidelines regarding the sale of some of the products which may be in high demand over the next few weeks.
Assured Advice has been developed for convenience store owners by ACS and Bucks/Surrey County Council. By being part of our Assured Advice scheme and following the guidance, your store procedures must be respected by ALL local enforcement officers including environmental health, police and trading standards. For more information, visit here.
