Fireworks and pyrotechnic articles

• Directive 2013/29/EU — Pyrotechnic Articles
• Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 — Art. 4

Who has to appoint one

Manufacturers outside the Union placing fireworks or pyrotechnic articles on the EU market.

Thresholds and exemptions

None. Even category F1 indoor sparklers are covered.

What must appear on the label

CE marking with the notified body number, category, registration number issued by the notified body, minimum age, safety distance and instructions for use.

Marketplace fields

Most marketplaces prohibit these products outright, and distance sales are restricted nationally.

Documentation you must hold

EU type-examination certificate, technical documentation, traceability register linking each article to its registration number.

Standards and testing

Type examination by a notified body for every article, with production quality assurance.

Language requirements

Instructions and safety distances in the language of each member state of sale.

When it applies

Before placing on the market, with national licensing on top.

How long records are kept

10 years, plus the traceability register.

What happens if you do not comply

Seizure, criminal prosecution and licence revocation. This is one of the few categories where personal criminal liability is routine.

Who enforces it

National market surveillance authorities, police and explosives licensing bodies.

Where the boundary lies

Storage, transport and sale each require national licences that no EU-level appointment can replace.

Questions we are asked

Can we sell F1 sparklers online across the EU?

Rarely. Minimum ages and distance-selling bans differ per member state and often prohibit it.