Financial setbacks of €2 million for fireworks companies due to imposed limitations
Fireworks Ban in Portugal Affects Sector and Causes Outrage
A fireworks ban imposed in Portugal due to high wildfire risk during an extreme heatwave and prolonged drought conditions is causing significant impact on the pyrotechnics industry and sparking outrage within the association.
The Portuguese Association of Pyrotechnics and Explosives Manufacturers (APIPE) has estimated that companies in the sector have lost approximately €2 million in five days due to the ban on fireworks displays. According to APIPE's president, Carlos Macedo, more than a hundred fireworks shows have been cancelled by Thursday, with dozens of cancellations reported on Sunday alone.
The ban, which extends from Sunday to Thursday, applies even to events that take place on water and in risk-free locations, as reported by Jornal de Notícias. This has led to frustration and outrage within the association, with Macedo expressing concern over the ban's indiscriminate nature.
Macedo emphasizes that the association accepts the decisions of those in power, despite their disagreement. However, he has criticized the ban as a "blind ban" on the use of fireworks throughout the country, arguing that it unfairly affects ocean waters, reservoirs, rivers, and city centres, areas that are not typically at risk of wildfires.
The government's measure was intended to protect areas other than just forests, in an effort to reduce the risk of fire outbreaks during a critical period of wildfire danger in August 2025. Despite the financial losses, Macedo acknowledges the need for wildfire prevention measures, but calls for a more nuanced approach that takes into account the unique characteristics of different locations.
Sources:
- Portugal imposes fireworks ban amid high wildfire risk
- Fireworks ban in Portugal causing financial losses for APIPE
- Portugal imposes restrictions to prevent wildfires
The fireworks ban in Portugal, affecting various events, is causing significant financial losses within the pyrotechnics industry, estimated to be around €2 million in five days by the Portuguese Association of Pyrotechnics and Explosives Manufacturers (APIPE). This financial strain is not limited to land-based events, as the ban applies to shows taking place on water and in risk-free locations, causing outrage among industry members.
