After court order against Birżebbuġa band clubs festa lobby says fireworks should be protected

Firework displays carry a historical and social dimension for Maltese communities, the Malta Pyrotechnic Association has said, calling on all parties to cooperate following a court injunction affecting Birżebbuġa's feast celebrations.

"Fireworks are an integral part of Malta's village feasts. They are part of our collective memory that identifies a culture and gives authenticity to a community, to a nation," said MPA President Godfrey Farrugia.

The statement comes after a court upheld a temporary injunction banning firework displays during the feast, following concerns raised over damage to a nearby farmhouse and agricultural land.

During court proceedings on Saturday, the complainants and Birżebbuġa's two fireworks clubs, Għaqda tan-Nar 22 ta' Frar and Għaqda Mużikali San Pietru Fil-Ktajjen, reached an interim agreement allowing a reduced display to take place over the weekend, with both clubs committing to scale back the type and quantity of fireworks used.

The court approved the display on those conditions, though confirmed the injunction will take effect again on 3 August. 

The MPA said each fireworks display is covered by a valid permit that specifies the time, duration, safety distances, dimensions, and types of fireworks to be discharged.

Licensed pyrotechnicians must abide by the permits issued by the police under the Control of Fireworks and Other Explosives Regulations, particularly Subsidiary Legislation 33.03.

Displays are always covered by an insurance policy, with precautions taken to reduce risks, including direct engagement with the Civil Protection Department, the police, Transport Malta, and the Local Enforcement System Agency to implement certain security measures.

The association noted that in recent years, encroachment, some of it illegal, into the defined safety buffer zones of firing fields has become an additional challenge.

This has been exacerbated by the misuse of surrounding land for unauthorised commercial, industrial, storage, and waste-disposal activities, including dump sites, boatyards, scrapyards, and other informal land uses.

The MPA urged its members to work proactively with third parties to ensure the highest level of cooperation, aiming to minimise disruptions and any adverse impacts. 

At the same time, it expects all third parties to fully comply with and support the directions issued by pyrotechnicians and the relevant authorities to ensure safe and efficient operations.

The association also pointed to its efforts to promote good practice, including the establishment of the Malta Academy of Pyrotechnics, which is due to issue accredited courses and an advanced diploma in pyrotechnics.

The MPA added that Malta is internationally recognised for its village feast fireworks displays, noting that UNESCO has acknowledged Maltese feasts as part of the world's intangible heritage, and that the European Court of Human Rights has affirmed fireworks as a community right.

Farrugia said government and its authoritative bodies, as well as every citizen, are responsible for preserving Malta's identity, tradition and culture for present and future generations, as heirs of that legacy.