Since Sunday July 9, the sale, the port, the transport and the use of artifice are prohibited in France. Prime Minister’s decision to avoid new excesses as July 14 approaches. franceinfo checked whether this prohibition was respected.
The government, for fear of new excesses as the National Day approaches, has decided to ban, from Sunday and until July 15 inclusive, the sale, port, transport and use of fireworks. In France. A rule which is also added to the deployment of a “exceptional device” of 130,000 police and gendarmes for the nights of July 13 and 14, announced the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin.
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However, on applications like Snapchat or Telegram, we continue to find sellers who offer firework mortars: “15 euros per unit with decreasing price” can we read on some accounts.“The 30 millimeter mortar has arrived. It will fart hard”, promises this other seller. Some also ask to pay online first, to avoid “police and journalists”.
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While the firework mortars have been used for years in clashes with the police, they were massively fired during the riots after Nahel’s death. Since the beginning of this urban violence, 150,000 mortars have been seized for illegal uses.
Compliance with the ban even in Belgium
On traditional websites, the ban seems to be better respected. Unable to buy or receive fireworks until next week. Rule also respected in physical stores, including in Belgium, where the sale has always been more free than in France. “Fireworks cannot be sold, nevertheless assures this cross-border seller, if you’re French it’s complicated, because the police have come and we can’t sell tricks to the French.”
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Since the start of the riots in France, the authorities have asked for increased border controls, in particular on return from Belgium, and this new ban will make it possible to deploy greater security means.
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A big shortfall for professionals
The new rule is rather well received and understood also in France, among professionals. Christian holds the Pyrofolies in Paris and he decided to take the lead at the beginning of the month, even before the ban. “I saw that there were problems in the street. I removed all my products from the window and refused to sell any. These are products for fireworks, entertainment and not for make them into weapons.”
But this year’s early ban represents a shortfall of 15,000 euros for him. A blow for the profession, whose sales have been eroding for a few summers because of the drought. This year again, several municipalities have decided to cancel their pyrotechnic shows because of the risk of fires, in Alsace or Île-de-France.