Fireworks Federal Council only wants to ban loud firecrackers without lighting effects
Banging fireworks without lighting effects are to be banned. Otherwise, the Federal Council sees no need for action. Both the fireworks initiative and the indirect counter-proposal of the responsible National Council committee go too far.
26.11.2025, 16:43
27.11.2025, 08:26
SDA
According to the statement published by the national government on Wednesday, it is in favor of banning only fireworks without lighting effects. More and more people consider these fireworks to be a nuisance.
Otherwise, the Federal Council believes that the cantons should be able to decide for themselves how they want to regulate the use of fireworks. The content of the popular initiative "For a restriction on fireworks (fireworks initiative)" and also the counter-proposal submitted by the responsible National Council committee overshoot the mark.
In addition to a ban on fireworks that only produce popping noises, the National Council committee's draft bill includes an extension of the obligation to display particularly loud fireworks. According to the Federal Council, this would lead to more administrative work for the administration and private individuals and would have significant negative economic consequences for the fireworks industry.
The fireworks initiative submitted in November 2023 calls for a new constitutional article that generally bans the sale and use of loud fireworks. The cantonal authorities should be able to approve exceptions for events of supra-regional importance. The Federal Council justifies its rejection of the initiative by stating that setting off fireworks, for example at a 1 August celebration, is a tradition for many people.
The National Council will discuss the bill in the winter session in December.
