Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republ : Traditional inspections of pyrotechnics´ dealers were carried out in December

Published: 31.12.2012

Author: Veronika Forejtová, press spokeswoman [e-mail]

Once again in December inspectors of the CITA in collaboration with the Licensing Office and the Czech Proof House for Arms and Ammunition focused on firework dealers all over the country.

Traditional inspections of pyrotechnics´ dealers were carried out in December.

ONCE AGAIN IN DECEMBER INSPECTORS OF THE CZECH TRADE INSPECTION AUTHORITY (CTIA) IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LICENSING OFFICE AND THE CZECH PROOOF HOUSE FOR ARMS AND AMMUNITION FOCUSED ON FIREWORK DEALERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. DURING DECEMBER THE CTIA´ S INSPECTORS CARRIED OUT 183 CHECK UPS.

During these inspections inspectors found out in 26 cases violations of some of the obligations prescribed by law for the sale of pyrotechnic articles and putting them on the market. The Czech Proof House for Arms and Ammunition received 11 findings, and after examining all particulars, it will launch administrative proceedings against some perpetrators.

The most common violation of the law on consumer protection within the checking powers of the CTIA included a breach of information obligation towards a market, i.e. missing price indications, non-issuance of invoice despite the request of the consumer or incomplete information in the invoice or in the cash sales pad.

According to the CTIA inspectors, main shortcomings are of administrative nature, which was dealt with on the spot by awarding fines, while some other findings will be the subject of administrative proceedings.

The most serious cases of sales of dangerous fireworks were found during inspections in the northern Bohemia. There were two vendors, offering spherical bombs with a wick of high mass, i.e. with a high proportion of explosive components (large diameter, long and thick fuse). Characteristics of both products corresponded with pyrotechnical objects of the third and fourth hazard classes, which may be sold only to qualified fire workers, having a special permission of the Czech Mining Office, which must be verified by the seller.

These spherical bombs were not labelled in accordance with the Decree No. 174/1992 Coll. of the Czech Mining Office on pyrotechnic products and handling with them. On its surface, they were neither labelled with the name of the manufacturer, importer, instructions in the Czech language, class or subclass of their danger, approval number for putting them into circulation, nor with instructions how to destroy the broken down pieces. The sale of eight pieces of this product was immediately banned and the findings were transmitted to the Czech Proof House for Arms and Ammunition.

Yet carried out checks show, however, that in most cases the goods from reputable distributors are offered and sold. It means that there is no immediate risk to consumers from dangerous or inferior quality products provided that they follow the instructions for safe use and disposal.