VietNamNet Bridge - Entertainment firecrackers – the product that creates lighting and sound effects but no explosion is considering by the authorities for popular use during the Lunar New Year 2014.

Major General Tran Van Ve, Deputy Director of the General Department of Social Order and Safety Administration Police, said the firecrackers without explosion is produced and distributed by Z121, a factory of the Ministry of Defense.

At a recent meeting, Colonel Nguyen Khac Hoi, Z121 Factory director, said the production of fireworks and explosive accessories in Vietnam has been exclusively implemented by the factory for years.

Hoi said entertainment firecrackers create lighting and sound effects without causing explosion. The chemicals used to manufacture this kind of firecrackers are harmless, non-combustible and non-explosive. Currently, the plant produces about 10 types of firecrackers, which have been tested with high efficiency.

Major General Tran Van Ve said the Government's Decree 36 on the management and use of firecrackers does not prohibit this type of firecracker. After testing, the authorities have recognized that this firecracker is environmentally friendly and can be brought to market. Some countries also produce this firecracker and called them toy fireworks.

"They applied the technology of Japan. This product was tested several times with good results and safety, not causing explosions and impacts on the environment. We touched the spark but nothing happened to our hands," Ve said.

According to Mr. Phung Ha, Director of the Chemical Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, firecrackers must have the sound of explosion but this product does not make explosion so it should not be called “firecrackers” but another word which is not “sensitive” as “firecracker.”

Ha added that this product is produced by Japanese technology so the product should be evaluated by Japanese standards before being licensed.

Major General Tran Van Ve said Z121 Factory needs to register the product quality, fully meet the technical requirements, environmental protection and the product must be approved by relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

"Then we will amend Circular 08 (guiding the implementation of Decree 36) to bring the product into life, perhaps the Lunar New Year 2014," Ve added.

Dr. Trinh Hoa Binh, Director of the Center for Public Opinion Survey said that firecracker has been associated with many community activities, with tradition of Vietnamese people. Though it was banned, it is still mentioned during the Tet holiday.

"The ban of firecrackers comes from the disorder and social security. But now people’s intellectual standard is better so the control of firecrackers will be easier. It is worthy to reconsider the use of firecrackers during Tet," Binh said.

According to police, smuggling of firecrackers, mainly from China, has been increasingly complicated in recent years. Each year, the functional forces handled over 200 cases, seized hundreds of tons of illegal firecrackers.

Earlier, the Prime Minister criticized and requested the Chairs of Hai Duong, Lao Cai and Ha Giang provinces to learn from experience and severely handle organizations and individuals exploding firecrackers during the Lunar New Year 2013.

Xuan Mai