Citizen bill seeking fireworks ban to go parliament

A citizen initiative bill to prohibit the use of fireworks by private individuals has successfully collected more than 50,000 signatures as of Saturday and is entitled to parliamentary discussion.

The completion of 50,000 signatures means the initiative has garnered enough support to be submitted to the parliament and MPs have to consider changing the legislation on fireworks.

The civic initiative to limit the use of pyrotechnics to certified professionals was launched by 14 health, disability and animal rights groups at the beginning of December this year, aiming to reduce the cases of injuries, air pollution and stress and anxiety of animals caused by fireworks.

The initiative would ban the use of category F2 and F3 fireworks by consumers. These categories include erratic flights, rockets, bangers, air bombs and others.

Hannu Halila, deputy chair of the Finnish Medical Association, told national broadcaster Yle earlier that fireworks cause up to 30 eye injuries annually in Finland.

"The health hazards, injuries and dangers fireworks cause every year are our primary motive for supporting this initiative. Eye injuries in particular, but also burns and damage to hearing," Halila was quoted as saying.

According to current legislation, the use of fireworks is permitted between 18:00 and 2:00 on New Year's Eve.

According to Yle, Norway banned the use of fireworks by private individuals years ago, and Sweden will require a permit for the use of certain kinds of stick-mounted fireworks from the beginning of next year.