A CONSULTATION on the sale and use of fireworks should be held ahead of planned reforms to the Island’s decades-old explosives law, a politician has argued amid growing calls for increased regulation due to the stress caused to pets.
Deputy Max Andrews, who said he had been contacted by pet owners “disconcerted” by the use of fireworks, has put forward a proposition calling for feedback to be gathered from the public and animal-welfare groups.
Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat admitted earlier this year that moves towards a possible law change to reduce the impact of fireworks on animals would not be possible during the current political term, as her department was working to complete several priority pieces of legislation before the election in June.
Deputy Andrews has asked the minister to begin a consultation in 2026 and to bring recommendations to the Assembly by June 2028, ahead of new regulations under the Explosives (Jersey) Law 2014.
He said that the Island is still operating under the Explosives (Jersey) Law 1970, as the updated 2014 law has never been brought into force
He wrote: “The purpose of this proposition is to ensure that the views of Islanders and relevant stakeholders are properly gathered before implementing changes to the Explosives Law.
“By setting a clear deadline for launching a new public consultation, the Assembly can ensure that the process is transparent, inclusive, and completed within a reasonable timeframe”
A report accompanying his proposal includes comments from Islanders who described displays taking place “over several days or weeks”.
One said: “It’s getting out of control. Other countries have silent fireworks and spectacular drone displays instead.”
Another added: “I think the majority of people really are quite fed up now with the endless disruption and distress fireworks are causing.”
The report also refers to an incident in 2022 in which a donkey called Mary died of a suspected heart attack “possibly caused by the stress from fireworks”, according to her “devastated” owners.
That same year, former minister Deputy Helen Miles responded to a petition calling for fireworks “without a bang”, which attracted more than 2,600 signatures.
Although she said she could not support the petition “as there is no clear mechanism to allow ‘loud’ fireworks to be banned”, Deputy Miles added that there was a “strong argument” that current regulations were insufficient and pledged to introduce revisions during her term.
Another petition launched earlier this year, calling for fireworks to be limited to a two-week period around Bonfire Night, gained almost 700 signatures.
Had it received political approval, the proposal would have brought Jersey in line with Guernsey, where bonfires and fireworks are limited to the days immediately around 5 November.
FACT BOX: What Islanders think about fireworks
Data from the Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, published on Wednesday, revealed the majority of adults were in support of requiring organisers to inform residents (86%); time limits on the sale and use of fireworks (75%) and limiting the amount of noise fireworks can make (66%).
More than three-quarters (78%) of adults were opposed to a total ban on fireworks.
Adults were more likely to support changes to the current rules on fireworks if they were women; aged 65 and over; and did not have children in their household.
