On 16th July 2026, the UK Government launched a public consultation on proposals to strengthen fireworks regulations.
Like many people, I grew up enjoying fireworks. They were part of my birthday (Bonfire Night baby!) amongst other celebrations. I don’t ever remember questioning them, and as a kid, I certainly didn’t really understand what sudden, loud explosions could mean for dogs, cats, horses, livestock or wildlife.
But as I got older, I started to see fireworks very differently. For so many animals, fireworks can cause intense fear, distress, injury and, in some cases, death.
Dogs Trust estimates that nearly half of UK dogs (49%) are negatively affected by fireworks. Dogs can also hear sounds from around four times farther away than humans and can detect higher frequencies. The RSPCA reports in their polling undertaken in 2019 that 62% of dog and 54% of cat owners surveyed reported their pets show signs of distress during the fireworks season3. In polling carried out in 2020 only two in five (41%) of UK adults said they were confident that they could care for a pet, horse or other animal that was distressed due to fireworks.
Redwings Horse Sanctuary reports that 1,468 incidents involving horses and fireworks were recorded in the UK between 1 November 2010 and 19 March 2024. These included:
- 49 horse fatalities
- 317 horse injuries
- 84 people injured during incidents involving horses and fireworks
Those figures are believed to be significantly underreported.
Cats are affected too. Figures cited by Redwings show that 64% of cat owners who have seen their cat experience fireworks reported that their pet displayed at least one sign of stress.
Horses and livestock may panic, run through fencing or injure themselves against buildings and equipment. Firework debris can fall into fields and grazing land. Wildlife can be disturbed or forced to flee, sometimes abandoning nests or colonies.
Every year I see the debate on fireworks waged on social media, like dogs in hot weather, it’s a polarising subject. But the reality is, they can have such a devastating impact on animals, and some people too, so isn’t it about time we looked at what needs to change? Honestly, when the UK government announced it was undertaking a public consultation, it felt like it hadn’t come soon enough.
What is the Government consulting on?
It is important to understand what this consultation is (and what it isn’t). The Government isn’t proposing a complete ban on the public buying or using fireworks. What it is seeking is views on potential changes intended to reduce some of the main harms linked to fireworks while still allowing their use during community, cultural and personal celebrations.
Summary of proposals
- Restrict the availability of noisier fireworks to the general public, with louder products only available to professional users
- Add products deemed to be carrying unacceptable risks to the list of existing banned pyrotechnic products
- Review the regulations for fireworks and pyrotechnic products currently classified as lower risk to better reflect the different levels of risk they pose
The consultation applies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (although some parts of fireworks law are devolved) and is open until Wednesday 7 October 2026.
After it closes, the Department for Business and Trade will analyse the responses and publish a summary alongside the Government’s proposed next steps.
Why animal lovers need to respond
Animal welfare is considered within the consultation, which is great; the Government says it’s heard directly from people about the effects fireworks have had on their animals, families and communities.
Polling carried out by the Office for Product Safety and Standards in December 2025 found that, among people who disliked fireworks noise:
- 91% cited the effects on animals
- 71% cited the effects on the peace and quiet of their community
- 68% cited the effects on vulnerable people
The consultation also accepts that animals can become distressed or startled and that their flight response can lead to injury or death.
Sharing personal experience in this consultation can also help show how fireworks affect animals in real-life situations.
The gap in current animal welfare law
Look, let’s face it, the current animal welfare law doesn’t allow people to be held to account when legally used fireworks caused an animal to suffer.
In 2024, Redwings brought together barristers, veterinary surgeons, police officers, local authority inspectors and animal welfare professionals to consider whether the Animal Welfare Act could be used in cases where pets or livestock are caused to suffer because of firework displays. The group concluded unanimously that it couldn’t realistically provide a route to hold someone to account.
The charity argues, quite rightly, that this strengthens the case for better regulation aimed at reducing the harm before it happens.
The proposal to reduce fireworks noise
For most animal lovers, the most relevant part of the consultation will be the proposal to reduce the maximum noise level of consumer fireworks.
At present, F2 and F3 fireworks* sold to consumers can produce up to 120 dB (A,imp) when measured at the required safety distance. As a rough comparison, that’s in the same ballpark as a nearby clap of thunder or gunshot. Fireworks often happen repeatedly and without warning, making them difficult for animals to anticipate.
The Government is asking whether the limit should:
- Remain at 120 dB
- Reduce to 110 dB (110 dB would be perceived as around half as loud as 120 dB)
- Reduce to 100 dB (100 dB would be perceived as around one quarter as loud)
- Reduce to 90 dB (90 dB would be perceived as around one eighth as loud – about the level of a lawnmower)
The Government’s main proposal is a reduction to 110 dB, which it estimates would affect around one-third of fireworks currently available to consumers. However, it is also inviting evidence about whether the limit should be reduced further, to either 100 or 90 dB.
Professional public displays would still be able to use louder fireworks. The Government’s reasoning is that organised displays are more likely to be advertised, planned and held at predictable times. Of course this doesn’t remove all animal welfare concerns, but advance warning can give animal owners a bit more of an opportunity to prepare.
You do not have to answer every question
There are ten consultation questions, and some are quite technical. You don’t need to be an expert in fireworks legislation to take part, and you don’t have to answer every question. Personally, when I first looked at the questions, I found them a little overwhelming, so I’ve done the work for you and I’ve written some guidance in completing the consultation here.
A chance to influence what happens next
We all know, completing a consultation does not guarantee that the law will change; the Government will review the responses before deciding which proposals, if any, should move forward. Any legislative changes would also require Parliamentary approval.
BUT…consultations are one of the main ways the public can provide evidence before policy decisions are made. For animal lovers, this is a chance to explain that the effects of fireworks are not limited to temporary noise or ‘inconvenience’ – they have a very real and very frightening effect on animals.
I grew up seeing fireworks as part of a celebration so I totally get people’s attachment to them, it’s just I now understand that the experience can look very different from the perspective of an animal, or the person desperately trying to keep that animal safe.
Remember, the consultation closes on Wednesday 7 October 2026. You don’t need to answer every question, use technical language or write a lengthy response – you only need to explain what you believe, why you believe it and, where possible, what you have witnessed.
To read more and take part in the consultation visit GOV.UK
Read my guidance on taking part.
* To give you some context, F2 fireworks have an 8-metre safety distance and are designed for back gardens. F3 fireworks have a 25-metre safety distance and need a larger space. The category tells you how far to stand back – nothing else. The category doesn’t tell you how loud a firework is, how high it goes, or how much explosive content it has. It’s literally just about how far away people need to stand.
There are classifications on top of these categories which describe the level of hazard a firework presents during storage and transport – this also tends to predict how big and/or loud a firework is (though not always!). So, the category and the classification systems work independently – I had to do a lot of research to get my head round it to be honest!
