Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546398
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 2 SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWS JULIANA ZAMMIT jzammit@mediatoday.com.mt Several venues stop indoor pyrotechnics ahead of nightclub sparkler ban THE ban on indoor pyrotech- nics is scheduled to start on 17 September, but several venues have already begun removing in- door pyrotechnics, according to Paceville Town Centre Manage- ment chairman Philip Fenech. "Open flames inside enclosed, crowded spaces are an unnec- essary disaster waiting to hap- pen," he said in a reaction to the ban, which is set to take effect in 16 days. The ban is set out in Legal Notice 199 of 2026, published on 17 July, which specifies that the regulations "shall come in- to force two months after the date of their publication." The government has given businesses a two-month grace period before the ban takes effect, allowing suppliers and venue operators to clear exist- ing stock. Fenech described the timeframe as reasonable, giv- ing the industry room to adapt without disrupting trade. Many venues, however, did not wait for the deadline. Clubs, restaurants and event spaces across Malta have al- ready replaced sparklers with high-intensity LED bottle ba- tons, electronic cake toppers and light displays, according to Fenech. For venue operators, Fenech added, the risk is not only physical but financial, given the potential for legal claims and liability. He said the shift shows that venues can maintain the cele- bratory atmosphere of a night out without the danger or legal exposure of an open flame. Fenech said fountain sparklers and Bengal candles might look impressive, whether attached to VIP bottle service, brought out on birthday and wedding cakes, or used for general party displays. But when placed near acoustic foam, low ceilings, or party decor, he said, they pose a catastrophic fire risk. The legal notice follows a fire at a basement bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on New Year's Eve, in which sparklers attached to cham- pagne bottles ignited sound- proof foam lining the ceiling. The fire killed 40 people and injured 116, of which 83 suf- fered severe burns. The notice stops short of a blanket ban. It specifically targets category F1 fireworks, classed under Maltese and EU law as posing a low risk with negligible noise, intended for confined areas including in- door use. That category covers sparklers and bang snaps, cur- rently sold in Malta to anyone aged 12 and over. Licensed specialists with the relevant permits will still be permitted to use pyrotechnics indoors, including for stage and theatrical purposes, while anyone found in breach of the ban faces fines of between €120 and €350. Fenech had already backed a ban on indoor bottle sparklers in the wake of the tragedy, tell- ing MaltaToday in January that the industry should "self-regu- late" rather than wait for legis- lation. However, in his latest com- ments, Fenech said the dan- ger extends beyond the risk of fire. He warned that floor staff moving through packed venues with lit sparklers risk burning their own clothes or hair, or in- juring patrons nearby. A stray spark or accidental collision in a crowded room, he said, could cause burns, ruined outfits or panic among guests. Malta is not alone in tight- ening the rules since the Crans-Montana fire, which took place on New Year's Eve in a Swiss ski resort. The Ital- ian ski resort of Courmayeur banned open flames and py- rotechnics in enclosed public spaces soon afterwards, while a number of Swiss cantons intro- duced their own sparkler bans. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has said her govern- ment is considering a nation- wide ban, and inspections of nightclubs across Italy have al- ready led to the closure of sev- eral venues, including the well- known Piper club in Rome. "Nightlife and hospitality thrive on spectacle, but patron and staff safety must always come first," Fenech said. Furthermore, he said the leg- islation was not about cutting down on celebration but set- ting a modern safety standard, one that protects lives, guards the industry's reputation and ensures everyone can enjoy a night out safely. The legal notice follows a fire at a basement bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on New Year's Eve, in which sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited soundproof foam lining the ceiling Paceville Town Centre Management chairman Philip Fenech