Luqa - Malta
Registered User
I belive 98% of the Maltese enthusiasts belive that this is neceseraly to safeguard this strong Maltese tradition and the pyros and their famillies.
But lets just hope that the current rules and the new ones are studied by real experts.
As also show on the Freakpyromaniacs front page. Quoting the Times of Malta of Friday 13th July 2007:_______________________________________________________________
The government has taken a step towards stricter enforcement of existing fireworks regulations and the drawing up of new ones.
Holders of permits to operate a fireworks factory will be called to a meeting soon to inform them about new enforcement procedures, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg has told The Times.
A report proposing new regulations will be submitted to him by October, he added.
The minister was contacted following rumours about some form of clampdown on fireworks manufacturers in the wake of the death of five men at the St Helen's Fireworks Factory in Gharghur two weeks ago.
One of the regulations to be more strictly enforced concerns the people allowed to enter fireworks factories. According to law, only those with a licence can do so. However, several factories are known to organise open days to permit benefactors to view the petards about to be let off during the village feast.
Such open days will now be strictly prohibited and licence holders will be informed that action will be taken against them if unlicensed people visit their factory.
Fireworks makers will also be reminded that whistling crackers (sfafar) are illegal and steps will be taken against anyone igniting them during feasts. These pyrotechnics were banned a few years ago because they had led to injuries, mostly on bystanders.
The times when fireworks can be let off must also be strictly adhered to, the fireworks enthusiasts will be told.
Dr Borg said that a couple of days ago he met members of a commission he appointed to make suggestions about fresh fireworks regulations. The commission, set up before the Gharghur tragedy, will submit a report to him by October.
Among the issues expected to be addressed are the layout of fireworks factories, what kind of chemicals can be used, what petards can be manufactured and how and where can these be stored.
There are about 39 fireworks factories in Malta and Gozo and Dr Borg said the onus of upholding the law rests with the licence holder.
In 2005, The Times had reported that a confidential report proposing badly-needed measures to make fireworks production safer had been shelved, a year after being submitted to the government.
The report pointed out that despite the fact that the activity is covered by a tailor-made act, the Explosives Ordinance, there is no system or body in place to see that the regulations are adhered to.
The report had recommended a review of the state of fireworks factories and the setting up of a team of experts who would be able to carry out random spot checks to verify that the regulations are upheld.
But lets just hope that the current rules and the new ones are studied by real experts.
As also show on the Freakpyromaniacs front page. Quoting the Times of Malta of Friday 13th July 2007:_______________________________________________________________
The government has taken a step towards stricter enforcement of existing fireworks regulations and the drawing up of new ones.
Holders of permits to operate a fireworks factory will be called to a meeting soon to inform them about new enforcement procedures, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg has told The Times.
A report proposing new regulations will be submitted to him by October, he added.
The minister was contacted following rumours about some form of clampdown on fireworks manufacturers in the wake of the death of five men at the St Helen's Fireworks Factory in Gharghur two weeks ago.
One of the regulations to be more strictly enforced concerns the people allowed to enter fireworks factories. According to law, only those with a licence can do so. However, several factories are known to organise open days to permit benefactors to view the petards about to be let off during the village feast.
Such open days will now be strictly prohibited and licence holders will be informed that action will be taken against them if unlicensed people visit their factory.
Fireworks makers will also be reminded that whistling crackers (sfafar) are illegal and steps will be taken against anyone igniting them during feasts. These pyrotechnics were banned a few years ago because they had led to injuries, mostly on bystanders.
The times when fireworks can be let off must also be strictly adhered to, the fireworks enthusiasts will be told.
Dr Borg said that a couple of days ago he met members of a commission he appointed to make suggestions about fresh fireworks regulations. The commission, set up before the Gharghur tragedy, will submit a report to him by October.
Among the issues expected to be addressed are the layout of fireworks factories, what kind of chemicals can be used, what petards can be manufactured and how and where can these be stored.
There are about 39 fireworks factories in Malta and Gozo and Dr Borg said the onus of upholding the law rests with the licence holder.
In 2005, The Times had reported that a confidential report proposing badly-needed measures to make fireworks production safer had been shelved, a year after being submitted to the government.
The report pointed out that despite the fact that the activity is covered by a tailor-made act, the Explosives Ordinance, there is no system or body in place to see that the regulations are adhered to.
The report had recommended a review of the state of fireworks factories and the setting up of a team of experts who would be able to carry out random spot checks to verify that the regulations are upheld.
