Welcome to AFSL
American Fireworks
Standards Laboratory
Photo credit: Chris Kong
ABOUT AFSL

Improving fireworks quality and safety

The American Fireworks Standards Laboratory (AFSL) is an independent, nonprofit corporation whose primary purpose is to improve the quality and safety of fireworks distributed or used in the U.S. marketplace, thus helping to mitigate unreasonable risk of injury from consumer fireworks. Services provided by AFSL include:

Voluntary
Standards

AFSL has developed voluntary standards for more than 20 categories of consumer fireworks devices. These standards are managed by representatives of the fireworks industry, federal and state regulatory authorities, the insurance industry, consumers, and technical experts.

Factory Training Program

AFSL works with factories, trading companies, and shippers in China, Brazil and other countries to ensure that consumer fireworks shipped to AFSL member importers comply with all AFSL standards. Factories receive information, training, and technical assistance in producing fireworks that comply with the AFSL standards.

Product Certification

 

In order for fireworks to be certified as compliant with AFSL standards, the product must be tested by AFSL’s contract testing lab, Bureau Veritas, and found to be compliant. Bureau Veritas is a third-party certified lab recognized by CPSC and certified by ILAC.

Membership Benefits

Membership in AFSL is available to all members of the fireworks industry concerned with the safety and quality of fireworks.

We welcome manufacturers, distributors, retailers, or any other organization interested in advancing the safe manufacture, sale, and use of fireworks.

Members who import consumer fireworks are expected to have all shipments of consumer fireworks tested and certified by AFSL in the country of manufacture. 

Your safety
is our top priority.

Consumer Fireworks

AFSL has developed voluntary standards for all 22 categories of consumer fireworks devices, and updates them periodically. As product designs change and technology improves, the standards are revised as needed to ensure they reflect changes in the product offerings and remain relevant to the industry.

Domestic Fireworks

AFSL’s Domestic Certification Program uses certified technicians to test fireworks imported into or manufactured in the U.S.

Become a Member

Interested in becoming an AFSL member? Find out more about what it means to have membership in AFSL.

AFSL News

News from and about AFSL and the fireworks industry.

2025 Fireworks Annual Report Released

Chevy Chase, MD (June 15, 2026) — The American Fireworks Standards Laboratory (AFSL), the nation’s leading independent fireworks safety and standards organization, has released its 2025 Fireworks Annual Report, reinforcing its longstanding mission to enhance consumer safety through testing, oversight, and data transparency. Founded in 1989, AFSL provides the most rigorous

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With July 4th Around the Corner, It’s Critical to Keep Dangerous, Illegal and Overloaded Fireworks Off Our Streets

Why Enforcing Consumer Fireworks Laws Matters Protecting People. Supporting Safe Business. Preventing Illegal Explosives. 1. 🛡️ Protects Public Safety Illegal fireworks are inherently unsafe. Oftentimes these illegal explosive devices are packaged and marketed as consumer fireworks and sold to consumers who are unaware of the potential danger. These products typically exhibit unsafe

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If You Dance, the Piper Expects to be Paid Sooner or Later

Yolo County California officials have charged five people with murder in connection with the deadly Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion that killed seven people. “This is not a case just about fireworks,” Yolo County Deputy District Attorney Clara Nabity said. “They are devices that have so much more explosive fireworks than

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That Light You See is Not the End of the Tunnel

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) hosted the first session of their eFiling instructional series CPSC 3,2,1, Go! earlier this week (April 8, 2026). If you attended, you know that CPSC staff provided an overview of the eFiling process and outlined expectations for full implementation. They also shared information on the Product Registry.  For

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Product Malfunction or Misuse?

Ken Ross, one of our consumer product safety colleagues from the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO), is a very bright and experienced professional serving in the product safety and regulatory compliance arena for over 40 years.  It is worth your time to read his article dealing with

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AFSL By The Numbers

From January to December 2025.

# of Certificates of Compliance Issued

0

Total # of Cases of Products Certified

0 M

# of Active AFSL Members

0

Welcome to the new AFSL website.

We’re excited to announce the launch of our new website! It features a refreshed look, is fully mobile-friendly, and now offers multilingual support in both English and Chinese.

Important for existing members:
For security reasons, you’ll need to reset your password the first time you log in.

If you encounter any issues or problems with the new site please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your patience, and we hope you enjoy the new site!