Firework
"The Same Procedure as Every Year"
Every year, prior to New Years Eve parties
a great variety of pyrotechnic products (firework) is imported by travellers
from third countries - mainly from Eastern Europe and Asia. Very often,
travellers are not aware of the security risks coming from the
offered products.
Whereas in Germany all available pyrotechnics are tested by the
Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und - prüfung BAM (Federal
Office for Material Searching and Testing) and labelled with a registration
mark, imported goods are - as a rule - lacking such approval. You must
also expect faked registration marks fastened to products which were
bought abroad. In most cases, the firework imported from third countries
have not been subject to security tests. Internationally agreed standards
have not existed yet.
The following applies:
- According to the provisions of the law on explosives the importation of not approved firework is prohibited and punishable; a criminal procedure will always be instituted;
- Imported but not approved firework shall be seized; no duty- free allowances shall be granted;
- Firework approved by the BAM (Federal Office for Material searching and testing) (small firework of classes P I and P II) must always be declared on entry; On principle, the importation of firework of class P II is permissible only between 28 or 29 December and 31 December.
For your own security you should not use firework the origin of which cannot be proved or which do not bear the prescribed label.
Firework sent by mail
The provisions mentioned above analogously apply to firework sent by mail. Apart from the obligatory
labelling of such firework itself, the packaging material (boxes, packets...) must also meet the appropriate security requirements according
to the dangerous goods regulations and the
law on explosives. In case of sending the articles by mail you
should therefore check the relevant provisions with the post office
or your carrier.
Introduction from other Member States
For the introduction of firework from Member States of the European Community, the provisions regarding
the importation from third countries analogously apply. That is, even
from Austria or France or other Member States only
approved firework may be introduced.
For questions concerning the importation / introduction of firework, please contact:
- the Bundesamt für Materialforschung und -prüfung BAM (Federal Office for Material searching and testing) in Berlin,
- the locally competent public affairs offices,
- the central Customs Information Centre
- or the locally competent customs offices.
