§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment which EC legislation affects the issue of import licences for pyrotechnic articles.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 1 February 1994]: To avoid barriers to trade, EC directive 93/15/EEC on explosives for civil uses required the removal of import licensing for those explosives within its scope. It was implemented in Great Britain by the Placing on the Market and Supervision of Transfers of Explosives Regulations 1993 which removed import licence controls for all explosives including pyrotechnic articles.
The new regulations require explosives, including all pyrotechnic articles, supplied in the United Kingdom whatever their place of manufacture to be authorised by the Health and Safety Executive, and in the case of fireworks, compliance with British Standard 7114 or an equivalent standard. The Government believe that these new provisions will effectively maintain safety standards.