Geraardsbergen The vuurwerkverbod in Flanders is less than a week approved, but still having Christophe Byl from Geraardsbergen, the international market vuurwerkmaker, already a major impact of the ban. “For 27 years, toil, invest and work in one blow with a blunder of a decree of dropped off the map,” says Byl.
The Flemish Parliament recessed last week unanimously to give the green light for the proposal of decree that the parting of fireworks bans in Flanders. Before the decree was fireworks everywhere in Flanders admitted, unless the church forbade. The rules are different from municipality to municipality. With the new vuurwerkverbod the reasoning is reversed and there is a total ban on fireworks. The ban also applies to firecrackers, sky lanterns and carbuurkanonnen. Municipalities may, however, deviate from the general rule and fireworks still allow it, but only at certain times and places.
Christophe Byl is not to speak about the total ban. The Geraardsbergenaar is an authority in the vuurwerkwereld and was already world champion during the international fireworks festival in China. “For 27 years, toil, invest and work, a life’s work that to me recognition is concerned within the country and abroad, in one fell swoop, with one of those, a decree of dropped off the map. To the half of my contracts are canceled or “on hold” set”, he writes in an e-mail to the Flemish minister for animal Welfare Ben Weyts (N-VA).
You know that this decree not just come into being, and lots of promised and required procedures are not followed. You know that this decree in no chance made to the Council of State, and certainly not in the Constitutional Court where the proceedings will be made. You ignore federal and European rules, but above all, you refused to listen to proposals from the sector
Christophe Byl
“You know that this decree not just come into being, and lots of promised and required procedures are not followed. You know that this decree in no chance made to the Council of State, and certainly not in the Constitutional Court where the proceedings will be made. No law in Flanders ever so fast and financial impact on a heavy and highly regulated federal matter as the fireworks. You ignore federal and European rules, but above all, you refused to listen to proposals from the sector,” said Byl.
No say
“I am already 50 percent of my revenue to the losses by contracts that were not renewed by the ban,” says Byl us. “Our sector is not against a decree, as there was a proliferation of regulations, but we have not had a chance to participate. We asked to be heard, but Weyts has never listened to us. However, we could propose to the fireworks, for example, to limit in time. The sector as a whole is now destroyed by a total ban. Moreover, it is not Flemish, but a federal jurisdiction. It is Weyts power is not to ban it.”
Our sector was already subject to very strict rules relating to storage, use and transport. Belgium world-wide has just about the strictest regulations in the area of sales, storage and classification. The vuurwerksector has always adapted and submitted to all surgical procedures that the government demands from us. We have hundreds of thousands or even millions of euro’s invested. After 27 years I’m busy with something that is ‘forbidden’
Christophe Byl
“Our industry was already subject to very strict rules relating to storage, use and transport. Belgium world-wide has just about the strictest regulations in the area of sales, storage and classification. The vuurwerksector has always adapted and submitted to all surgical procedures that the government demands from us. We have hundreds of thousands or even millions of euro’s invested. After 27 years I’m busy with something that is ‘forbidden’ is,” says Byl.
We think that We are pretty strong
“There is all the turmoil about. Suddenly there was a very broad support for. So it is not out of the blue”, responds Michael Voldere, spokesperson of minister Ben Weyts. “The fireworks will not go away in Flanders. Municipalities will still give permission for the fireworks, but they’ll still need to think about in what place and at what time they allow. In the old situation popped everyone vuurwerkpijlen around, what a nuisance for people and animals. What the legality is concerned, we think that we have fairly strong and within the lines of the law.”
