Reminder to local shops over fireworks, seasonal products' guidance

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding convenience retailers to ensure that they understand the rules and guidelines which apply to the storage and sale of fireworks.

Retailers must apply for permission to store fireworks from their local trading standards service or fire authority. If permission to store fireworks is granted, then fireworks can be sold within the following dates:

• Between 15th October and 10th November
• Diwali and three days prior
• Between 26th and 31st December
• First day of Chinese New Year (22nd January 2023) and three days prior

ACS has a range of resources which have been developed to support retailers with the sales of these products. The Selling Fireworks guide has advice for retailers on the legal requirements related sale and storage of fireworks and the Preventing Underage Sales guide outlines the age restrictions associated with different types of fireworks and advice on how colleagues can enforce these restrictions.

All staff must be properly trained and regularly updated on the procedures involved in the sale of fireworks. Further guidance on how to put in place effective policy on preventing underage sales is available as part of the ACS Assured Advice on Preventing Underage Sales.

ACS recommends that retailers adopt the ‘Challenge 25’ policy when selling fireworks. More information about Challenge25 is available here.