Tragic wedding accidents spark calls for stricter pyrotechnics rules

After a woman was killed and another injured by signal flares at two separate weddings over the weekend, public pressure is mounting for tougher regulations on pyrotechnic devices.

In both incidents, the flares—designed for rescue signaling—were fired as part of the celebrations, not for their intended safety purpose.

The Interior Ministry is considering harsher penalties for the illegal use of pyrotechnics and plans to raise the minimum purchase age from 14 to 16. The European Commission is also working on tighter regulations in response to a surge in similar incidents across Europe, including the two cases in Croatia, as well as the use of flares by sports hooligans and at protests.

Interior Minister Davor Božinović said the focus is on restricting access and curbing illegal imports.

“We are moving towards limiting access—that’s most important. Second, we and other member states must grapple with how these products get into the European Union,” Božinović said.

The green-left party Možemo! is pushing for even stricter measures, including a ban on pyrotechnics advertising, said MP Dušica Radojčić.

“We are particularly concerned because these devices are being marketed to children as entertainment,” Radojčić said.

However, fireworks distributors warn that new rules will have limited effect and could threaten jobs. Tihomir Sokolić, the industry’s representative at the Employers’ Association, noted that Croatia already has some of Europe’s strictest pyrotechnics laws, claiming the real problem lies in a growing black market for these devices.