Filenews 28 May 2025
AKEL MP and Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment, Nikos Kettiros, stated after the Committee session that a draft law by MP Charalambos Theopemptos was examined, which aims to amend the Explosives Law, with the aim of completely prohibiting the sale of fireworks of any form or category without prior licensing from the competent authority.
According to Mr. Kettiros, once again the seriousness of the issue of the illegal use of fireworks, which cause both nuisance and risks to public safety, was highlighted. He informed that on June 4, 2025, a government bill is expected to be submitted to the Council of Ministers, which will regulate issues related to the licensing, sale and use of fireworks.
He described the provision of the bill for the introduction of responsibility not only to the user, but also to the person who assigns him the throwing, whether it is a groom and daughter-in-law, or owners of event venues that allow such actions, particularly important.
During the session, as he said, information that had also been given to the Police was confirmed, that illegal fireworks are used extensively during the Easter period and in sports events, with some even being directed against members of the Police. These fireworks, according to the MP, are allegedly imported from Poland and Greece, mainly through online orders, and are shipped with parcels, often misleading packaged.
Mr. Kettiros referred to a recent seizure in Limassol, which included a large quantity of fireworks of categories F3 and F4, which require a special permit and are considered prohibited. Among the objects found were throwing octagonal fireworks and colourful smoke bombs. As the Police pyrotechnicians stated, just the previous day, 3,000 such fireworks were destroyed by the competent authorities.
Regarding Theopemptos' proposal, he noted that the complete ban may also be extended to low-risk products, such as F1 and F2 fireworks, which include cake candles and stars. Although the competent services expressed reservations about their characterization as non-dangerous, there was concern from MPs about the possibility of banning them in periods of high use, such as in summer.
Concluding, Mr. Kettiros said that the final regulations can be incorporated into the government bill that is expected to be submitted soon.
