China's quality inspectors have released the result of its latest spot check on fireworks, and nearly half of those being checked failed to meet quality standards.

The State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, China's quality watchdog, conducted the inspections nationwide.

It showed that only 56 percent of the checked products in China's main firework producing areas in the south and southwest of the country met quality standards.

Major defects included the blasting fuses being too short or too long, and the using of banned materials in fireworks.

Ba Duojia from the Administration of Quality Supervision explained the purposes of the spot checks.

"We'll fine companies producing sub-standard products in line with national quality law, examine all the stored fireworks to stop sub-standard products appearing on the market, and order local governments supervise and confiscate such fireworks," Ba said.

A national standard will take effect this March to guarantee the safety of firework production, transportation and storage.

It will also regulate the location of firework factories, setting out detailed accident prevention methods for dangerous production processes.

China's fireworks industry suffers hundreds of deaths every year in fires and explosions as thousands of people, often in poor rural areas, do much of the work by hand in poorly equipped premises.

During January and February, the fatality rate usually surges as producers rush to fill orders for the Lunar New Year, which falls during those two months.

(CRI January 24, 2005)