Scottish Animal Welfare Commission: lower noise fireworks and other alternatives - December 2024 to September 2025

Response from Minister for Victims and Community Safety (11 September 2025)

Dear Professor Dwyer

Thank you for your letter of 1 September which follows the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s (SAWC) members’ discussion with Professor Madeleine Campbell, Chair of the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) about fireworks. I am grateful to the Commission and the Committee for their support in our ongoing work to mitigate against the impact of fireworks, including how the noise affects animals.

It was helpful of you to highlight that the introduction of firework control zones appears to be having a positive effect, and this year we expect a number of firework control zones to be in place this coming Bonfire period in Edinburgh and Glasgow, which I see as an encouraging development.

In respect of lower noise fireworks, I have indeed raised the question of how the industry is working to positively change consumer behaviour towards these alternatives with the British Fireworks Association and I would like to accept your kind offer of materials and advice in relation to lower noise options. I was encouraged to learn that it was reported the recent Edinburgh Military tattoo used drones and lower noise fireworks in their displays and I hope that as these alternatives become more widely known, that this may encourage others to make such a switch, which seems to be kinder to all.

As you are aware the Scottish Government has taken a series of evidence-based steps within the powers available to strengthen the law around access to and use of fireworks to help enhance the safety and well-being of our communities. Currently, four out of six key measures provided for within the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022, have been implemented and two have been paused, which you refer to, as outlined to the Criminal Justice Committee. The measures paused relate to a firework licensing system and restrictions on the days fireworks can be supplied to or used by the public and I would confirm that these decisions are being kept under review, and it is our intention to take these forward as soon as possible, however, growing pressure on public finances and the need to focus resources on frontline services means that we may not be able to deliver these in 2026.

I continue to engage with the UK Government to gauge opportunities to improve fireworks regulation and we are keen to ensure that the Scottish Government is kept abreast of developments being made by the UK Government including the consideration of the Private Members’ Fireworks Bill seeking to restrict and limit the use and sale of the most harmful fireworks.

I am grateful to both the SAWC and AWC for your support and engagement and I hope this is helpful.

Yours sincerely,

Siobhian Brown