Unauthorised handling of fireworks in NSW

SafeWork NSW will not permit the handling of unauthorised fireworks in NSW, including the importation from overseas, storage or use within NSW, or transportation through NSW.

Any handling of unauthorised fireworks may result in SafeWork NSW taking action against you including monetary penalties, suspension or cancellation of your explosives licence, seizure of the fireworks and/or destruction of forfeited fireworks. SafeWork NSW may also seek to recover costs that it has reasonably incurred for the storage and disposal of forfeited fireworks.

If the fireworks you intend to import or transport through NSW are only authorised in another State or Territory and not authorised in NSW, you must arrange for the importation directly into the State or Territory where they are authorised, not through NSW.

If you have any questions, contact SafeWork NSW via the details at the end of this document.

What are authorised fireworks?

SafeWork NSW maintains a register of authorised explosives in this List of Authorised Explosives and Categories of Prohibited Explosives in NSW, published on the SafeWork NSW website. Any explosives not listed in the published document are unauthorised and not permitted for handling in NSW.

Display fireworks1 have been granted a generic authorisation provided they meet all of the following criteria:

  • imported to Australia,
  • intended for use by licensed professional pyrotechnicians2 in a fireworks display,
  • classified by their manufacturer with UN number 0333, 0334, 0335, 0336, 0337 or 0431,
  • classified in accordance with test criteria of the United National Model Regulations and United Nationals Manual of Tests and Criteria, or the Default Fireworks Classification Table in the UNMR, and
  • not prohibited fireworks (refer to section 4.2 in the List of Authorised Explosives and Categories of Prohibited Explosives in NSW.

Importers must also provide evidence of the basis for the classification of a fireworks article upon request by SafeWork NSW. Only licensed professional pyrotechnicians conducting a fireworks display in NSW are recognised for the purposes of the generic authorisation. Licences or displays from other jurisdictions do not apply.

Fireworks that are intended for retail sale to the general public are not authorised in NSW. Fireworks that are authorised for sale to the general public in another state does not make them authorised in NSW.

It is an offence to handle fireworks in NSW that have not been authorised by SafeWork NSW, even if you have the appropriate license to handle fireworks classified with the UN numbers above.

1 'Display fireworks’ is defined in the Explosives Regulation 2024, Schedule 5.
2 This means licensed in NSW.

What licence do I need to import or transport fireworks in NSW?

To import display fireworks, you must hold a current NSW issued:

  • Licence to Import, or
  • Licence to Manufacture.

To transport display fireworks in NSW, you need a NSW issued Licence to Transport. This includes transportation from an NSW port to another State or Territory.

Information on the requirements and how to apply for the above licences is available at Explosives and fireworks licences, SafeWork NSW.

Licence conditions

Licence holders must also comply with the conditions of their licence set out in the Explosives Act 2003 and Explosives Regulation 2024, or as otherwise required by SafeWork NSW.

Permitted activities and limitations for handling are set out in the licence conditions viewable at General explosive licence and security clearance conditions under the NSW Explosives Act and Regulation, SafeWork NSW.

Can I import fireworks into NSW and transport the fireworks into another state or territory for sale?

A licence permitting import into NSW, or transport of display fireworks to another State or Territory, allows the holder to do so on the following conditions:

  • The fireworks must meet the NSW authorisation requirements for display fireworks (see conditions above at ‘What are authorised fireworks’), and
  • The fireworks can only be supplied to a person authorised to receive them, including a person outside of NSW.

What licences do I need to conduct a fireworks display in NSW?

To purchase, possess, store, transport or use display fireworks, you need a:

  • Pyrotechnicians licence, or
  • Fireworks single use licence (FSUL).

Information on the requirements and how to apply for the above licenses is available at Explosives and fireworks licences, SafeWork NSW.

Pyrotechnicians and FSUL holders are only permitted to handle display fireworks as part of an authorised fireworks display in NSW. This does not allow general handling at any other time.

The permitted activities, and limitations for handling, are set out in the operational conditions.

Operational conditions apply for all pyrotechnician licenses and FSULs and can be viewed at Operational conditions for pyrotechnician's and single use fireworks licences, SafeWork NSW.

What are the consequences for non-compliance?

It is an offence in NSW to:

  • handle (includes transporting, possessing, using, dispensing, storing, packing, selling, supplying, importing) unauthorised fireworks,
  • handle display fireworks without a licence that permits the activity, and
  • breach the conditions of your licence and/or security clearance.

These offences may result in monetary penalties and/or imprisonment.

Breach of licensing conditions may also result in the suspension or cancellation of your licence.

SafeWork NSW also has authority to seize fireworks as evidence of suspected non-compliance and may subsequently destroy unauthorised fireworks.

Plan ahead

If you are intending to import fireworks for sale in a state or territory that allows it and those fireworks are unauthorised in NSW, the fireworks must be imported directly to the state or territory that allows this sale.

If you are intending on supplying fireworks to the consumer market in another state or territory and those fireworks are unauthorised in NSW, you must import directly into the state or territory that allows this activity. These fireworks must not be imported into NSW.

If you import fireworks into NSW, you must provide written notice of the import to SafeWork NSW. Fireworks can only be transported from the port or airport with written approval from SafeWork NSW. You may be requested to provide evidence that the importation is display fireworks. You may also be directed to allow an inspection of the fireworks to occur.

Contact us

For more information, please contact SafeWork NSW:

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