Explosives

When first thinking of an explosive we recognise commercial blasting materials as they form the bulk of those used on the island in quarrying and engineering projects.  One such project recently completed was that at St Sampsons Harbour, to provide a sewage pumping chamber.

Energetic chemicals — explosives are however, found in many everyday items from party poppers to airbag initiators, fireworks and flares.  All are included in the definition of an explosive given in the law, that is to say — “explosive” means gunpowder, nitro-glycerine, guncotton, picric acid, dynamite, blasting gelatine, gelignite etc. etc……… 

The term includes fireworks, coloured fireworks, coloured fires, fuses, percussion caps, detonators, cartridges, ammunition of all descriptions and every adaptation or preparation of an explosive as above defined.

All explosive brought to the island must be imported under the terms of a licence issued by the department unless they are in a class which is exempted from the full requirements of the law, i.e. party poppers.  Information on exemptions can be obtained from this department.

Once imported, licensed explosives must be stored in premises licensed by the Royal Court for the purpose and may only be sold from premises similarly licensed.  Fireworks brought into the island from France or other countries are illegal and are subject to seizure and destruction, but should  a prosecution prove necessary, could be subject to a fine of up to £1,400.

Not only are French fireworks illegal, they are also very unpredictable in their performance and therefore very dangerous.  Parents should take great care to ensure that their children do not buy fireworks which are openly for sale in French shops.  Fireworks are explosives, they can seriously injure or even kill the unwary.