Press Release: Better regulation: Improved safety for fireworks and air bags

The European Commission on 14 October 2005 proposed to replace some 25 parallel national approval procedures of fireworks and airbags by one single EU directive. The Commission suggested that this practical example of better regulation would lead to a considerable reduction in costs for the industries concerned, and ensure that essential safety requirements for pyrotechnic articles were respected throughout the EU. The basic aim was to reduce the risk of accidents caused by malfunctions and to increase consumer safety as sub-standard pyrotechnic articles would no longer be available on the EU market.