The Czech Trade Inspection transferred 15 findings in total to the CPHFA, 4 findings of offering pyrotechnics of the highest class of danger (class IV.) whose sale is permitted only to holders of fireworks operator certification was transferred to the Czech Mining Authority for subsequent proceedings. 2 findings were transferred to competent fire departments. The CTI’s control activity will continue also in the last two days of this year.

For this year, the legislation was changed defining the division of competencies among authorities. Nevertheless, these changes did not concern the controls of pyrotechnics. “Control of entertaining pyrotechnics is as consistent as it was in the previous years. Nothing has changed for the consumer, different is only the division of competencies at the side of the state bodies,” emphasises Martin Kocourek, the Minister of Industry and Trade.

The current legislation does not restrict the control of conditions of sale and stocking of pyrotechnics; solely issuing measures or sanctions for obligations violations is in the competence of another body (e.g. the CPHFA, the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic or the Czech Mining Authority).

Aside from the routine control of traders’ obligations in the CTI’s competency, the inspectors focused on the control of conditions of sale and stocking of pyrotechnics, especially on abidance with informational obligations when introducing pyrotechnic products to the market. The detected infringements were subsequently transferred to the competent body entitled to issue a sanction in accordance with the laws in its own scope.

In agreed cases, also employees of the Czech Proof House for Firearms and Ammunition participated in the controls that are, in accordance with the Act on Consumer Protection, entitled to supervise over pyrotechnics also in the field of satisfactory provision of information about the products. Within the controls, employees of this authority collected samples of pyrotechnics that were without any proper marking of the class of danger; subsequent findings were transferred to it by the CTI.

In the past days, the CTI maximally used the opportunity to perform controls either with the direct presence of other surveillance authorities’ employees or it transferred its findings to them so that fines could be issued. Within the control activity, the CTI inspectors especially focused on whether the pyrotechnic products are sold after the marked expiry date; whether they are marked with the proof mark in compliance with the implementing regulation to the Act on the proof of firearms, ammunition and pyrotechnic objects or with the conformance mark CE.

They also checked whether pyrotechnic products are equipped with a Czech manual on use and liquidation of unexploded pyrotechnics; information about the producer, importer or supplier; marking of the class of danger (from I. to IV.) or category. Free sale of products marked with the class IV. filed among explosives, which was also detected by the CTI inspectors, was immediately announced to the Czech Mining Authority to issue appropriate measures.

Despite the fact that within the sale of pyrotechnics the CTI detected violations of legal obligations only in 17 distributors (ca 10% of the controlled ones), the CTI recommends consumers to be very watchful when not only purchasing, but also firing of pyrotechnics. Not following the manuals on use and liquidation, eventually their use in a way at odds with the manual, can bring unpleasant consequences and cause irreversible damages to health or property.

Proof mark can be found in the attached .doc file.

The detected infringements transferred to the Czech Proof House for Firearms and Ammunition:

Sale of pyrotechnic items

· without obligatory marking with proof mark or the conformance mark CE

· with expired date of consumption

· in a damaged package

· without manuals in the Czech language

· without pricing information

Offering pyrotechnics of the class II. of danger within stall sale (where only sale of the class I. is permitted)

Foto 1: Example of firework rocket without any Czech manual and without any proof mark or conformance mark CE