Importing, exporting, and transporting fireworks

Do you import, export, or transport fireworks? You are obliged to notify this. You must also have the classification code of the fireworks authorised. And you should comply with the European rules on transport of dangerous goods.

Importing and exporting fireworks

You must notify the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT, in Dutch) 48 hours before the fireworks:

• enter or exit Dutch territory
• are put at the disposal of another party

Transport of fireworks

You may only transport fireworks if the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) has authorised the classification code for the fireworks concerned. In order for this to happen:

• the manufacturer’s classification must correspond with the classification on the ADR list;
• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research) must confirm the accuracy of the classification or award a classification after testing.

You must always register the import, export and distribution of fireworks with ILT.

Rules on transport

Dangerous goods must be transported according to the arrangements made in:

• The Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Gods by Road (ADR)
• The Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID)
• The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN)

ILT offers a Dutch-language checklist for the transport of consumer fireworks.

Please note: The technical requirements that apply in the Netherlands to fireworks differ from those of other EU member states. Do other EU member states already allow a specific type of fireworks? Then the government may only ban the sale in the Netherlands in exceptional cases.