Consumer-firework noise
Lower the maximum for consumer F1, F2 and F3 fireworks from 120 to 110 dB (A,imp), while also seeking evidence about 100 and 90 dB options.
Open UK Government consultation
UK fireworks consultation 2026
Review the official proposals and questions, source material and dated developments. The consultation closes on Wednesday 7 October 2026.
Consultation deadline
7 October 2026
Firework Pet Alert is independent and is not speaking for the UK Government. The official consultation page is the authoritative source for its status and material.
Status checked 8 September 2026
The consultation has not been rewritten and no new law has been enacted
The official closing date remains 11:59pm on Wednesday 7 October 2026. Question 3 has not been withdrawn or rewritten, no final consumer-noise threshold has been selected, and no government response or consultation outcome has been published. Claims that an immediate or complete firework ban has already been announced are inaccurate.
This is a verified status summary. Current status should always be checked against the official consultation.
The consultation at a glance
What is proposed
Product restrictions
Add F2 or F3 products judged to carry unacceptable safety or security risks to the regulation 33 banned list, and clarify the restriction concerning multiple-shot-tube fireworks.
Lower-risk products
Review F1 and P1 rules, including removing the purchase age restriction for Christmas crackers and considering whether other products need stronger or lighter requirements.
Professional displays: the government intends professional public displays to retain access to loud effects, saying these events are publicised and less likely to happen illegally or at unsociable hours.
Keep the scope clear
What is not proposed
- A complete ban on public purchase or use of all consumer fireworks.
- A national system for notifying residents about planned fireworks.
- A requirement in these proposals for every private or professional display to register with Firework Pet Alert or another notification service.
- Immediate legal change: responses must first be analysed and any changes require parliamentary approval.
These points describe the scope of the current consultation as checked on 8 September 2026.
Understanding the options
120, 110, 100 and 90 dB explained
The consultation uses dB (A,imp): A-weighted sound pressure measured with impulse timing at the safety distance for the firework category. Decibels use a logarithmic scale, so a 10 dB change is not a ten-percent change.
The option to keep the present limit.
The government’s preferred proposal; estimated to affect around one-third of current consumer products.
An alternative on which the government is seeking evidence.
The lowest alternative presented in question 6.
These are the consultation’s approximate perceived-loudness comparisons, not claims that every product reaches its legal maximum or sounds identical in every setting. Distance, surroundings, weather and whether a sound is expected all affect experience.
Official question list
All ten consultation questions
The official form allows respondents to answer any or all of these questions.
- Are there any other particular F2 and F3 fireworks products that you think the general public should not be allowed to buy? Please state which products and give your reasons.
- If more products are added to the regulation 33 banned list, what consequences might there be for consumers, industry, enforcement authorities, professional users, and others? Please give your reasons.
- Do you agree that regulation 33(1)(g) should be amended to make explicit that a firework comprising more than one shot tube is banned from sale to the general public? Choose agree, disagree, or neither agree nor disagree, and give your reasons.
- Do you agree that the age limit for purchasing Christmas crackers should be removed? Choose agree, disagree, or neither agree nor disagree, and give your reasons.
- Are there any other specific F1 and P1 pyrotechnics that should have their regulatory requirements increased or decreased? Please state which products, what regulatory requirements you think they should have and give your reasons.
- Do you agree the decibel level of fireworks consumers use should be lowered? Choose one: keep 120 dB (A,imp); lower it to 110 dB (A,imp); lower it to 100 dB (A,imp); lower it to 90 dB (A,imp); or don’t know.
- What might be the positive impacts of reducing the maximum decibel level of fireworks available to the general public? Please explain your answer, providing evidence where possible.
- What might be the negative impacts of reducing the maximum decibel level of fireworks available to the general public? Please explain your answer, providing evidence where possible.
- How much lead in time would businesses need to prepare for the changes proposed in this consultation and why? Please state a lead in time in months or years, and explain your answer, providing evidence where possible.
- What other things should we consider when setting a lead in time? You may wish to reference the impact on people who buy fireworks, enforcement bodies, police or the general public.
Firework Pet Alert does not suggest answers or provide a response template. Whether and how to respond is for each reader to decide; the government form is the official submission route.
Official consultation audiences
Who can respond
Individuals
The government invites responses from any interested person, including consumers and people working with vulnerable or under-represented groups.
Businesses and organisers
The listed audiences include retailers, importers, professional pyrotechnics businesses, and community or voluntary display organisers.
Organisations and public bodies
The listed audiences include animal-welfare and veterans’ organisations, healthcare, emergency services, councils, Trading Standards and regulators.
This is a shortened audience summary. See the official consultation for the complete list and response instructions.
Stakeholder and news tracker
What has happened so far
Government consultation opens
DBT publishes ten questions covering product restrictions, lower-risk products, noise and transition periods.
Official consultationInitial stakeholder reactions published
The government announcement records responses from Combat Stress, Dogs Trust and Redwings Horse Sanctuary, including the importance of preparation and responsible celebrations.
Government announcementFirework Pet Alert consultation hub opens
Firework Pet Alert publishes a factual guide to the official proposals, questions and source material.
View the official questionsRedwings publishes its consultation response information
Redwings Horse Sanctuary welcomes the consultation and publishes its own explanation and considerations for respondents.
Redwings statementBritish Fireworks Association updates its position
The consumer-fireworks trade body publishes its concerns about further restrictions, calls for proportionate evidence-led regulation and stronger enforcement, and links to its Safer Fireworks response resource.
BFA positionGlasgow expands separate 2026 Firework Control Zones
Glasgow announces zones for 30 October to 9 November covering Broomhouse, Pollok, Glasgow Harbour and a combined Govanhill and Pollokshields area. These use separate Scottish local powers and do not amend the UK consultation.
BBC Local Democracy reportOfficial consultation remains open
The GOV.UK page still lists the same ten questions and 7 October closing date. No government response, final noise threshold or new law has been published.
Official consultationGovernment answers parliamentary questions on noise and illicit supply
The minister says consultation responses and available evidence will be considered before any final decision about changing the consumer-firework noise limit. A separate answer says illegal importation and sale are already offences and confirms that the consultation is seeking evidence about possible impacts on illicit supply.
Noise answer Illicit-supply answerLast reviewed 8 September 2026. Entries link to published source material. Inclusion records a relevant public development; it does not imply endorsement by or of Firework Pet Alert.
Official government form
The government’s response form is separate from Firework Pet Alert. Firework Pet Alert does not provide suggested answers.
Official response form