Cats Protection is calling for tighter controls on online firework sales after an investigation by the charity revealed concerns about age-restriction laws which are designed to protect consumers and children under the age of 18.
In addition, the vast majority of online retailers fail to provide consumers with information about the potential impact of fireworks on cats and other animals.
The charity reviewed 119 listings for category F2 and F3 fireworks - which cover fireworks for garden use and larger display-scale fireworks - across 10 online retailers and found that:
· More than seven in ten (71%) listings did not directly display minimum age requirements
· 95% lacked any animal welfare messaging on the product page, despite some retailers providing this information elsewhere on their websites.
· None of the retailers provided noise measurements in decibels (dB), which would allow consumers to make informed comparisons between products. Although 92% of listings included some indication of noise, this was typically limited to subjective descriptions such as “loud” or simple rating systems, making it difficult for consumers to understand the likely impact of fireworks on their cats.
The investigation also found that many online fireworks retailers were potentially failing to meet legal requirements designed to prevent underage sales.
Although the sale of category F2 and F3 fireworks to under-18s is prohibited by law, only four retailers displayed the exact legal age-restriction wording required, and even then the information was not prominently featured. Most retailers instead relied on FAQ’s, safety pages or simple 18+ symbols, which may not satisfy the legal requirements.
At the time of reviewing, Cats Protection online detectives were also able to add fireworks to their baskets and progress through the purchasing process without being asked to provide proof of age, despite retailers being legally required to verify the age of anyone who appears to be under 25.
The findings come as animal welfare organisations continue to raise concerns about the impact of fireworks on pets and other animals. Cats Protection says better information at the point of sale would help consumers consider lower-noise alternatives, notify neighbours in advance and take practical steps to reduce stress for cats and other pets.
Cats Protection has made Trading Standards aware of its findings and written to all of the retailers to ask them to make a range of improvements, including prominently displaying age-restriction warnings on firework product listings and introducing age-verification processes before users can access firework sales pages.
Positively, two of the retailers involved in the research – Galactic Fireworks and 1st Galaxy – have since made significant changes to their website.
Cats Protection is also urging consumers to check that retailers display the legally required age-restriction information, have robust age-verification measures in place and provide clear safety guidance.
Madison Rogers, the charity’s Associate Director of Advocacy and Campaigns said:
“Millions of people enjoy fireworks responsibly, but our research suggests online shoppers are not being given clear and consistent information at the point of purchases.
“This is of great concern given the impact that loud fireworks can have on cats and other animals. 69% of cat owners report that their cat is negatively affected by fireworks physically or behaviourally*.
“The sudden unpredictable noise can cause significant fear and stress, leading some cats to hide, stop eating, attempt to flee or display behavioural changes that can continue long after the event itself has ended.
“Ultimately we believe fireworks should only be available to licenced professional users for organised displays but retailers have an opportunity to provide advice to reduce unnecessary distress to cats. In the meantime, we would advise consumers to purchase fireworks from suppliers who are giving them all the key information up-front.”
Ian Hillier, Lead Officer for Fireworks and Explosives at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), said:
“CTSI welcomes the work that Cats Protection has done to ensure that online retailers comply with the law when selling fireworks to consumers - including preventing them from being purchased by children.
“Fireworks can cause significant injuries to consumers and animals, so it is vital that businesses have robust measures in place to prevent such risks, including the use of routine age verification checks to ensure fireworks are not sold to children.
“Businesses must ensure that they understand their obligations and put the necessary measures in place to be legally compliant. CTSI urges all consumers to report any wrongdoing so it can be investigated.”
Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and helps around 191,000 cats and kittens a year through its national network which includes around 182 volunteer teams and 31 cat centres. Further information about Cats Protection can be found at www.cats.org.uk
