Overview
- Berlin’s police designated five central prohibition areas from 18:00 Dec. 31 to 06:00 Jan. 1, banning the carrying of fireworks (F2–F4) and weapons, with enforcement by roughly 4,000 officers and 1,500 firefighters and no perimeter fencing this year.
- The Federal Police in North Rhine‑Westphalia enacted a possession ban on dangerous items at 16 main train stations from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1, announcing intensified checks with possible expulsions, transport bans and charges for violations.
- Local authorities reaffirm targeted restrictions: Gladbeck enforces bans near sites such as churches, hospitals and care homes, and Neuburg prohibits fireworks in the Obere Altstadt, with municipal services monitoring and fines that can reach tens of thousands of euros.
- Animal‑welfare data highlight recurring pet distress, with TASSO reporting 428 lost dogs over the last New Year period and a Dogorama analysis ranking Berlin highest for registered losses in its dataset, while a recent case in Upper Austria underscored early firecracker risks.
- Cross‑border demand is surging as Dutch customers head to German border stores from 00:01 on Dec. 29, with import limits of 25 kg per vehicle and fines for violations, and several Edeka branches publicly forgo fireworks sales citing animal and environmental concerns.