The Netherlands introduces a temporary ban on the sale and lighting of fireworks for New Year’s Eve. This was announced by the national authorities last week and is justified by the desire to avoid extra pressure on the healthcare system, which is already under great pressure due to COVID-19.
State Secretary Van Veldhoven who proposed the measure even compared this measure to the spring applauses for people in healthcare personnel and urged citizens to help them this time by not setting off fireworks.
No sales of fireworks until 2021
Last year over 1300 people ended up in hospitals or medical cabinets due to injuries caused by fireworks. Fireworks display also puts a dent in the maintenance of public order as it leads to accidents. That is why, healthcare and police representatives but also local mayors in The Netherlands requested a temporary ban on their use, which was fully embraced by the national government.
Meanwhile, companies working in the fireworks industry will have to make sure they store the existing quantities in safe locations, before the ban on sales is lifted in 2021. The authorities will compensate them for the storage and transportation and will pay them compensation measures – a total of 40 million euros is earmarked for that.
There is however, an exception to the new rule and this is the F-1 category of fireworks, which is a light type suitable for children. According to European directives a member state cannot ban this type of fireworks, which may be sold in shops all year round. The temporary fireworks ban, on the contrary, is regulated by a COVID-19 Act.
We remind our readers that even before the coronavirus many cities across Europe started phasing out fireworks, since those are considered bad for the environment due to pollution, noise and negative effect on animals. Amsterdam was no exception – the capital was one of many cities to say no to its fireworks show.
Source: TheMayor.EU
