A petition to ban firecrackers in Germany has been signed by 2.7 million people 0 5

A petition for a nationwide ban on the use of firecrackers, initiated by the German Police Union (GdP), was signed by about 2.7 million people by noon on Tuesday, December 30. According to the portal innn.it, which is campaigning for the ban, this is the most popular petition in Germany's history.

Stephan Weh, head of the Berlin branch of GdP, demanded a meeting with Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who refuses to endorse the restrictions.

"We do not want to wait until one of our colleagues dies due to this senseless and crazy nighttime explosion of firecrackers. Germany is ready to rethink New Year's Eve," the newspaper Die Welt quoted him.

GdP - in favor of public events

GdP insists on banning the sale of fireworks to private individuals for safety reasons and proposes an alternative in the form of centrally organized public events.

Jochen Kopelke, chairman of GdP, warned of a "legal vacuum." "Now Mr. Dobrindt must answer for the consequences of New Year's Eve," the union leader believes.

Decisions of the federal states in Germany

Meanwhile, as noted by the magazine Der Spiegel, most federal states are in favor of more stringent regulations on the use of fireworks for New Year's Eve. Ten states supported this idea, but their proposals vary.

For instance, Berlin and Bremen want the states to make their own decisions regarding bans. Bavaria supports transferring competencies to local authorities but would allow the use of fireworks. Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern advocate for more leeway at the local level. Rhineland-Palatinate demands the creation of protective zones around animal shelters and zoos. The other states rejected the proposal for additional regional powers.

Illegal fireworks from Eastern Europe

The discussion about a complete ban on private fireworks on New Year's Eve heats up in Germany at the end of each year, partly due to serious incidents. In early 2025, five people died as a result of fireworks accidents. There were also reports of attacks on emergency service personnel on New Year's Eve. The Green Party, as well as environmental organizations and animal protection groups, are the most active proponents of the ban.

Fireworks for New Year's Eve in Germany are sold from December 29 to December 31, and their use is permitted only on December 31 and January 1. Despite this, fireworks are illegally imported into Germany from Eastern European countries where there are no such restrictions. In recent weeks, police and customs officials have repeatedly seized illegal fireworks. For example, in mid-December, the Berlin police reported the confiscation of 500 kg of firecrackers, rockets, spherical bombs, and other pyrotechnic products found in a van on the A12 highway near Frankfurt (Oder). Customs authorities regularly warn that pyrotechnics offered in neighboring countries or online often do not meet German safety standards.