The central government has brought the production of fireworks under strict control to curb the occurrence of fireworks-related explosions, said Sun Huashan, deputy director of the State Administration of Production Safety, Wednesday.

At a forum on the supervision of production safety in the fields of dangerous chemicals and fireworks, Sun said illegal production of fireworks has resurged in some areas due to local protectionism. Some people even make the dangerous products at home.

In the first nine months of this year, 98 fireworks-related explosions occurred across the country, claiming 209 lives, up 21 percent and 24 percent, respectively, from the same period of last year.

Fireworks factories without modern equipment and safety facilities will be closed down, while the manufacturing of fireworks in residential houses is prohibited, he said. The government will also crack down on fireworks factories that employ under-age workers.

The administration has recently established a new department to monitor the production of dangerous chemicals and fireworks.

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2003)