decree containing new rules regarding consumer and professional fireworks fireworks decree . in the decree the regulations for consumer fireworks and professional fireworks are integrated and tightened up. consumer fireworks refer to the fireworks used by private persons on new years eve. professional fireworks refer to the heavier fireworks which are ignited during events or shows. the guiding principle is that the entire chain of trade in and import transfer export storage manufacture assembly and ignition of both professional and consumer fireworks is regulated by general rules which are tailored to those who carry out the relevant activity. for safety reasons the government will - as is now the case - soon be laying down safety requirements for consumer fireworks. one of the requirements is that fireworks will need to specify intended for private use or intended for professional use the name of the manufacture and importer or trader as well as the article no which serves to identify the fireworks and the year of manufacture. consumer fireworks must also be accompanied by instructions for use. since research has shown that the packaging does not always carry the correct designation of the risk classification in many cases the classification is lower than it should be as a result of which accidents can occur during storage in the draft decree the importer will become responsible for the correct designation of the risk classification on the transport packaging. in addition he must ensure that both the fireworks and the transport packaging are clearly labelled in terms of whether the fireworks are intended for private or professional use. furthermore importers and suppliers of fireworks shall be required to notify the environmental hygiene inspectorate beforehand of the import and export and delivery of their fireworks except for delivery of consumer fireworks to private people . the purpose of this is to gain an insight into the fireworks streams and to prevent fireworks which do not meet the product safety requirements that apply to consumer fireworks ending u in the hands of private users. in addition safe distances are prescribed which during the storage of both consumer and professional fireworks must be observed in respect of vulnerable objects. rules are laid down for storing and processing fireworks which are further detailed in the annexes. as far as the sale of consumer fireworks is concerned it is stipulated - as is now the case - that fireworks may only be sold during the last three days of the year and consumer fireworks may only be lit between 10 p.m. on 31 december and 2 a.m. on 1 january. professional fireworks may only be sold to establishments which are permitted to store those fireworks or to businesses which have a licence to light fireworks. a licence is required for igniting professional fireworks which can be obtained from the provincial authorities where the applicant is based. this licence pertains to the business activity in general. in order to light fireworks on location an additional permission is required from the provincial executive of the province in question as well as a declaration of no objection from the mayor of the municipality where the fireworks will be ignited. only a skilled certified person may light the fireworks in accordance with and accompanied by a work schedule which has been drafted beforehand. an establishment designated by the government issues certificates of skill. the general act on the recognition of vocational training within the ec puts foreign certificates on an equal footing