Overview
- At the Interior Ministers' Conference in Bremen, federal and state officials signaled steps to amend the explosives regulation so municipalities can restrict all F2 consumer fireworks across larger areas.
- Reporting highlights a proposed deletion in §24(2) No. 2 that currently limits local bans to items with an exclusive bang effect, opening the door to broader citywide restrictions such as within Berlin’s S‑Bahn ring.
- The changes will not affect this New Year’s Eve, with existing localized ban zones in Berlin remaining in place at sites like Alexanderplatz, Sonnenallee and the Admiralbrücke.
- Ministers remain split on a nationwide prohibition, and Bundesinnenminister Alexander Dobrindt was described as open to larger ban zones but did not announce an immediate law change, though he was reported by some outlets to plan a proposal.
- The Police Union delivered a petition with more than 2.2 million signatures for a nationwide private ban, while the fireworks industry warned of economic damage and the Umweltbundesamt urged restraint rather than a blanket prohibition.