Shopgoods Fireworks – Wholesale Storage and Sale for Territory Day
The following information bulletin is a summary of the requirements of the Dangerous Goods Regulations 1985 and relevant standards relating to shopgoods fireworks wholesalers.
Legislation
All persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) have a primary duty of care to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others.
A wholesaler of shopgoods fireworks has additional duties under the Dangerous Goods Act 1998 and Dangerous Goods Regulations 1985 and the Australian Standard 2187 – Explosives – storage, transport and use.
Action needed prior to Territory Day
- Performance testing must be undertaken by the importer for each type of fireworks no more than 12 months prior to retail sale. Wholesalers must ensure shopgoods fireworks are tested by an independent licenced fireworks assessor in accordance with AS 2187.3, either in the country of origin or, if stored within Australia beyond 12 months, re-tested. Copies of all testing documentation must be provided to NT WorkSafe in the format provided by NT WorkSafe.
Please refer to information bulletin Wholesaler information for testing and sale and Instructions for Territory Day Fireworks Assessors – Sound Level Testing for further information
- Prior to importing shopgoods fireworks into the Northern Territory, importers must hold a current Import/Export Certificate of Approval. A Notice of Arrival must also be submitted to NT WorkSafe prior to the shopgoods fireworks arriving in the Northern Territory. Wholesalers must ensure their storage premises comply with all legislative requirements, including storage standards, workers’ compensation obligations, and emergency planning and response arrangements. A compliance checklist, which forms part of the application, is provided to assist applicants and outlines the requirements that must be met as a condition of holding a licence to store, possess, and sell shopgoods fireworks in the Northern Territory.
- Ensure any shipping containers are fully lined, not with any loose timber sitting on top of the fireworks when they leave China.
Site Inspections
NT WorkSafe Inspectors will conduct a wholesale site inspection prior to the license being issued. Inspectors will also conduct inspections of the containers when they arrive in the Northern Territory and are opened for the first time. For fireworks which were stored in the Northern Territory prior to 2026, these will also be inspected prior to removal from the container.
Transport yards will not be considered to be a wholesale storage site for the purpose of redistribution of shopgoods fireworks to retail outlets.
Approved Periods
The following are the approved periods for Territory Day Celebrations:
- Sell of shopgoods fireworks - 9am to 9pm on 1 July
- Throw, ignite or explode shopgoods fireworks - 6pm to 11pm on 1 July
- Possess shopgoods fireworks - 9am 1 July to 12pm first business day following 1 July
The extended possession time is to allow retail outlets to return unsold stock to their wholesalers and allow the general public to hand in shopgoods fireworks to NT WorkSafe.
Sale
Retail orders of fireworks may be taken prior to the permitted dates of sale. However, shopgoods fireworks may only be delivered by the wholesaler to the retailer on the dates the retailers holds a fireworks retail licence to store.
Post Territory Day
After Territory Day, wholesalers must complete and submit a Notice of Export – Shopgoods Fireworks. This notice must include a comprehensive inventory report detailing both the quantities of fireworks sold and the remaining stock. All remaining stock must be stored in accordance with the appropriate storage requirements.
Display Fireworks
Fireworks of a purely explosive type are strictly prohibited and must not be stored, possessed, supplied, or sold with shopgoods fireworks. Explosive fireworks (e.g., “Bangers” [firecrackers], 1"–4" shells, sky-rockets) are classified as display-type fireworks. A Display Licence and Fireworks Display Permit must be issued by NT WorkSafe, and the shotfirer must hold a valid pyrotechnics licence. Further information on licensing and fireworks display permits can be found in the bulletin Requirements to Conduct an Approved Fireworks Display.
Responsibility
The applicant for the licence is also the responsible person and must ensure that all licence conditions are complied with, even if the application is made on behalf of a business. The applicant must also be present at the location specified in the application for the entire sales period, in accordance with the Dangerous Goods Regulations.
Responsible Person
- must be over the age of 18 years
- must have a clear understanding of the Northern Territory legislation in relation to the storage, transport and sale of Dangerous Goods
- must be capable of acting without supervision
- organise the sale and safe transport of shopgoods fireworks to licensed retail outlets
- must ensure that the requirements of the licence and checklist are adhered to during the sales period for shopgoods fireworks
- must instruct all employees/co-workers in the requirements of the legislation and the sale and transport of shopgoods fireworks
- must be present when NT WorkSafe officers inspect the wholesale site
Contact
For further information please contact us on 1800 019 115, or via email at ntworksafe@nt.gov.au