The Malta Pyrotechnics Association has called for the uniform application of regulations on fireworks throughout Malta and Gozo and called for consultation by the government on further changes to the rules.

The association's legal adviser, Michael Falzon, said at a press conference today that the proposals were not a reaction to the Curia document on village feasts, issued earlier this week, but rather, a reaction to complaints by members about uneven application of the rules.

"We are calling for one set of regulations that is applied across all districts," Dr Falzon said.

He said that in the barrage on feast days, the association is proposing that the maximum dimension of the petard (tal-bomba) should be reduced to five inches from six inches, thus reducing noise. The association is also calling on its member fireworks factories to reduce the use of such petards.

The association is proposing that fireworks should not be let off before 9 a.m., rather than 8 a.m. as at present, and that ground firework displays should end at midnight, rather than 1 a.m.

Dr Falzon said the association agreed with the Curia's view that processions should not take more than three-and-a-half hours and it agreed that there should be 30 minutes without fireworks during the processions.

He said fireworks factories were seeking regulations on how they could let off test fireworks during the year, since this was an area which were currently unregulated and left to the discretion of district police.

He said the association had no information of plans by the government to convert an old explosives factory near Dingli into a central fireworks store and therefore could not comment about the matter. PBS reported that such plans existed yesterday, but Dr Falzon said there had been no consultations on this.

The association has also made a range of technical proposals on the manufacture of fireworks and proposed adding 100 metres in the distance for the letting off of fireworks of one burst.