Overview
- Manfredi Potenti announced plans to start a parliamentary process for a national law restricting certain exploding fireworks known as botti.
- The proposal would include training and homogeneous penalties across Italy, reducing reliance on a patchwork of mayoral ordinances.
- Local bans have often proved ineffective on New Year’s night due to limited real-time enforcement and the scale of private pyrotechnics.
- Research cited includes a 2020 University of Bern study and a 2024 University of Utrecht study documenting stress, fear and behavioral changes in pets, with the RSPCA noting sound levels that can exceed 160 decibels.
- Animal-welfare groups and veterinarians promote quieter options such as silent fireworks, drone shows, videomapping and sons et lumières, as Italy recorded 309 fireworks-related injuries at New Year 2025.