Penalties for violation of fireworks regulations raised drastically

The government has published amendments to the Explosives Ordnance Act drastically increasing the penalties for anyone found to have violated regulations on explosives and fireworks.

Among other provisions, the Bill provides for a fine of €50,000 and imprisonment for up to two years for anyone found to have illegally stored explosives. The previous regulations had provided a maximum penalty of a fine of €465 and six months in jail.

Should a person be killed as a result of illegal practices, the jail term will rise to a maximum of four years. In case of serious injury, the prison term will be a maximum of two years and a fine of up to €80,000. The penalties, however, increase further when negligence is proven.

The amendments, drawn up in the wake of the tragic fireworks explosion in a garage in Naxxar in March, will be debated in Parliament next month.

“This is a clear signal that no abuse or illegal practice will be tolerated” Justice and Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici said.

Other amendments provide that the guilty parties may be condemned to pay civil damages and that a Court can withdraw the licences of factories or shops where illegal practices would have been committed.