More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Fireworks companies could find themselves £30,000 out of pocket in the event of a no deal Brexit.
Dartford and Chatham-based Ghengis Fireworks is the UK's largest independent retailer for recreational rockets.
The display team has produced all manner of spark, crackles and pops for clients across the UK during its 15 year existence.
Its firecrackers have seen them pitted against the best in the business as part of the annual British Firework Championships.
Earlier this month the team were at Temple Hill School in Dartford and the King School in Rochester to put on shows for students.
Now owner Norman Wilkinson says the future of his company and others like it could be determined by the outcome of the ongoing Brexit negotiations.
In 2017 Britain switched to the CE standard, a certification mark which demonstrates conformity with health and safety standards for products sold within the European Economic Area.
As a result the company had to pay £30,000 to switch from the the British standard for the safety of fireworks to the CE mark.
But the UK fireworks industry could soon be reverting back to the old classification in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The government has recently issued guidance on the sale of pyrotechnics in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
It has said unilateral recognition of the CE marking and several other relevant EU marks will continue for a time-limited period.
Use of the ‘UKCA’ conformity mark will initially be voluntary before becoming compulsory.
"A lot has changed over the past three years," Mr Wilkinson said. "Its cost us a lot of money to get a classification which might now be worthless."
To add insult to injury, Mr Wilkinson says the old British standard was actually safer than the one operating across the continent.
The excess costs associated with the switch over are supplemented by licensing fees to both Medway and Dartford councils to sell year-round.
At present fireworks can be only be purchased by the public between October 15 and November 10 around Bonfire Night and between December 26 and 31 ahead of New Year celebrations.
He says some companies have already gone bust and the uncertainty has been bad news for business.
The firm is currently trading in its key period which is sandwiched into a three to four week window.
"90% is traded in a four week period and then a smaller period between Christmas and New Year," he said.
There is also a small three day window before Diwali and Chinese New Year and gender reveal parties are an emerging market.
Each year they hold performances as part of the Hindi festival of light in Gravesend.
An explosive video shared on UNILAD of Norman dressed as a smurf firing a display cannon has gained more than 200,000 views online.
But the pyrotechnic enthusiast said safety was always of paramount importance.
He praised the work of Trading Standards and the Health and Safety Executive authorities in helping to keep the public safe.
"Trading Standards has done a good job keeping dodgy fireworks off the street," he said.
In the last year the company has distributed 23,000 leaflets on the safe and proper use of fireworks to primary schools across the country.
They have also posted explainers online and sponsored events for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
MPs are currently considering whether to place a ban on the sale of fireworks after a petition attracted more than 250,000 signatures in under two weeks.
The business owner said: "We do a huge amount of charity events too, whatever it may be. If they stopped fireworks it would put a stop to all that."
