Dangerous Fireworks Act

(CHAPTER 72)

(Original Enactment: Act 24 of 1972)

REVISED EDITION 2014

(28th February 2014)

An Act to prohibit the possession, sale, transport, delivery, distribution, import or discharge of dangerous fireworks.

[1st August 1972]

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Dangerous Fireworks Act.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

“dangerous fireworks” means firecrackers, rocket fireworks, sandcrackers and such other fireworks as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, declare to be dangerous fireworks for the purposes of this Act;

“explosive” includes any substance used or manufactured with a view to producing a practical effect by explosion or a pyrotechnic effect;

“in transit” means taken or sent from any country and brought into Singapore by land, sea or air (whether or not landed or transhipped in Singapore) for the sole purpose of being carried to another country either by the same or by another conveyance;

“rocket firework” includes any firework which will travel over a distance when activated before it produces a practical effect by explosion or a pyrotechnic effect;

“sandcracker” means a pellet containing an explosive which will be activated when set on fire or rubbed on any abrasive surface or by any other means.

Prohibition on possession or discharge of dangerous fireworks

3.—(1) No person shall —

(a)	keep or have in his possession or under his control; or
(b)	discharge or let off,

any dangerous fireworks.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to any dangerous fireworks —

(a)	while in the course of transit as cargo in any vessel, aircraft or vehicle; and
(b)	while being loaded onto or discharged from any vessel, aircraft or vehicle by any person or his employee or his agent.

Prohibition on sale, transport, delivery, distribution or import of dangerous fireworks

4.—(1) No person shall sell, transport, send, deliver, distribute or import any dangerous fireworks.

[8/88]

(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than 6 months and not more than 2 years and shall also, subject to sections 325(1) and 330(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68), be punished with caning with not more than 6 strokes.

[8/88; 15/2010]

(3) When any offence under subsection (1) committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or any person purporting to act in any such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against accordingly.

[8/88]

(4) Where any dangerous fireworks is found in any business premises or in any vehicle used for the purposes of such business, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the dangerous fireworks is for sale, transport, delivery or distribution by the owner of the business.

[8/88]

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4), “business premises” means a shop or a building, or part thereof, where retail or wholesale trading is carried on.

[8/88]

(6) Section 3(2) shall apply to subsection (1) as it applies to section 3(1).

[8/88]

Dangerous fireworks in transit

5. Where any dangerous fireworks brought into Singapore in transit is landed or transhipped in Singapore, it shall be stored and dealt with as the Minister may direct.

Penalty

6.—(1) Every omission or neglect to comply with and every act done or attempted to be done contrary to the provisions of section 3(1)(a) or 5 shall be an offence and the offender shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

[8/88]

(2) Any person who contravenes section 3(1)(b) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —

(a)	in respect of a first offence, to a fine of not less than $2,000 and not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both; and
(b)	in respect of a second or subsequent offence, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years and shall also, subject to sections 325(1) and 330(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68), be punished with caning with not more than 6 strokes. [8/88; 15/2010]

Arrest

7.—(1) Any police officer may arrest without warrant any person reasonably suspected by him of having committed an offence under this Act, and take him before a Magistrate’s Court to be dealt with according to law.

(2) Any dangerous fireworks by or in respect of which an offence under this Act has been committed may be seized by a police officer and may, notwithstanding the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68) relating to the disposal of property the subject of an offence, be disposed of as the Minister may direct.

Regulations

8. The Minister may make regulations to provide for —

(a)	the control of and the safety precautions which are to be taken in relation to transhipment, storage and movement of dangerous fireworks; and
(b)	the better carrying out of the provisions of this Act.

Exemption

9. The Minister may, by notification published in the Gazette, exempt any person or class of persons from all or any of the provisions of this Act, whether absolutely or subject to such conditions as the Minister may think fit to impose.

Saving

10. The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other written law.

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