Sky lanterns banned
The use of sky lanterns have been banned by the Malta Standards Authority with immediate effect.
In a statement the authority said that the sky lanterns, also known as wish lanterns, were deemed unsafe and posed a serious risk to consumers.
These lanterns are frequently used during festivities, fairs and celebrations. They operate by igniting a liquid or a small solid fuel slab which is located and held in place at the lower extremities of a fabric or paper dome-shaped bag which inflates by the action of hot gases being released from the burning fuel.
Once inflated, the lanterns are released into the atmosphere where they float haphazardly out of control of the human user. Such mode of operation may cause the lantern to glide onto flammable or highly combustible materials such as houses, fields and cars, thus posing an obvious risk to third party individuals and property, the authority said.
It said that due to these risks, such lanterns were banned in several other European states and were known to have ignited fires in other countries.
The authority told operators that if these lanterns were found on the market during inspections carried out by market surveillance officers, the economic operator would be liable to legal action as prescribed by law.
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edward bartolo
Dec 19th 2009, 11:27
@ MSA
Our buildings are built out of concrete and limestone, both of which, are non-flammable. While I agree that these lanterns are a fire hazard, I cannot help not drawing the attention of the authority, that misinformation, is never a good way to educate (persuade?) people. In other words, if our houses are not flammable, don't try to imply that they are.
Thanks.
A. Fernandez
Dec 18th 2009, 13:57
@ Giljan Agius: Consider the possibility of the bans on other things being lifted as the country continues to move forward. Don't just look at the word "ban", but instead think about why what is being banned. As an example, I welcome the recent ban on laser pointers.
Bans/prohibition should move along with the times. I don't know of any bans in Malta that I have a problem with. I would however like to see more things banned - such as petards, where heavy restriction on permitted noise levels and location may be sufficient... or privately owned companies using ground water for free, adding sugar and flavourings and selling it to the public at a ridiculously high price.
As to the video of the world record in Indonesia - It was a planned/organised event at a beach where the lanterns went out to the open sea - Not somebody in Sliema lighting one of those lanterns on his roof and burning his neighbours awning.
Christopher Debattista
Dec 18th 2009, 12:23
MSA - Mohha biss fil-hmerijiet . L-aqwa li nbaxxu ic-Co2 Emission rate halli ndahlu dik il-kumpanijja Daniza tal-power station u thammeg u l-aqwa li n-nies tas-south jkomplu jibilghu balla trab ! GROW UP !
Clare Brincat
Dec 18th 2009, 11:51
And to think I was just going to buy a few for Christmas... What a shame.
Paul Xuereb
Dec 18th 2009, 08:17
The MSA should be focusing their taxpayer salaries on building standards and public cleanliness, or the lack of.
Tony Tanti
Dec 18th 2009, 07:40
Sky lanterns are used in summer in Prague. When I was there last September one landed in the Old Town Square just a few metres from myself … it was still lit!
Johann Pisani
Dec 18th 2009, 00:02
...what else will we be banning here in Malta ???? what a boring country !!!
Here we ban these sweet sky lanterns....while just a week ago....Guinness World Records just added another record to their list !!! Have a look at this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r_FwuWe-48
Oh well....Only in Malta....we come up with such stupid decisions !!!
J. J. Borg
Dec 17th 2009, 20:48
Alfred Demicoli: so according to you the MSA is a body that seeks to promote the spread of Islam in Malta? I'd love to see how you came to this conclusion! I'm also intrigued by your remark that in the future you may not be able to wear miniskirts.
C Falzon
Dec 17th 2009, 19:54
Below are the safety instructions quoted from one such product on eBay (in Chinenglish): * You should fly the wishing lamp in the open field * Do not fly it on the residential area such as grassplot, hurst and forest. * Do not fly it near the airport (must be far away 10 miles). * Do not fly it near the high tension line, transformer substation, storehouse, gas station and the military area. * Do not fly it under the typhoon of 3 class or greater. * Kids must fly the lamp in the company with adults. I think the one about being further than 10 miles from the airport alone already means you should not use it anywhere in Malta and Gozo (if you count the Gozo Heliport as an airport) The typhoons are probably not that much of an issue here though.
Peter Bonnici
Dec 17th 2009, 19:02
@ V Caruana. I'm probably worse at Physics than you, but if the lantern gets punctured for some reason it will still fall out of the sky, and you can't bet on the flame being extinguished before it lands.
P. Montebello
Dec 17th 2009, 18:59
Mr Caruana. I believe your physics should also tells you that once the flame is off, the lantern, or its remains will come down, back to earth. Yesterday, on the Daily Mail website, there was exactly this call for these lanterns to be banned since two prized cows ate part of the lantern wiring. This caused the death of these cows. So for those wo do not see the dangers, I recommend that they go to this article.
D. Xuereb
Dec 17th 2009, 18:42
How more dangerous are Sky lanterns than the deafining PETARDS exploding and dispersing several small pieces of carton on fire? Ban those aswell then!
V Caruana
Dec 17th 2009, 18:40
May I ask. Where is the danger? My physics tells me that the lantern will only stay afloat as long as the flame is alight.
Jeffrey Tabone
Dec 17th 2009, 17:31
i know of other such product exactly same danger if not more.....FIREWORKS
Peter Bonnici
Dec 17th 2009, 17:25
@ Giljan Agius. At a wedding I attended recently, they let off these sky lanterns at one point and frankly I didn't see the danger then. But if you were to reflect, there's no saying where one can end up, the MSA is right on this one. We'll have to think of something else to fill our lives with 'joy'. Ahjar l-uff mill' ahh.
J Sant
Dec 17th 2009, 17:14
So we are not going to see them anymore, going up to te sky at Qrendi feast during the Ave Maria. What a great Pity. Was a very touching moment.
H Zammit
Dec 17th 2009, 17:12
To Giljan Agius: Where is the fun in seeing your property catching fire or some relative fatally injured because some crazy fool decided to burn the house down. Enjoy your Christmas like a wise man.
Ramon Casha
Dec 17th 2009, 17:08
I was under the impression that the MSA had the authority to set standards, not to ban things.
Gerard Cassar
Dec 17th 2009, 17:07
These sky lanterns have been inspired by the "mongolfiers." However there is a way to use them without any danger. The system is used abroad when an accident happens in the wild country and no way of getting a bulb held high to illuminate the place. A balloon containing an electric bulb is kept linked to a battery or something that produces electricity and kept high free or through a pole above the scene to illuminate the place. A miniature lamp such as Christmas miniature bulb can be used. Simply insert one of the miniature bulbs into the balloon; inflate it while keeping the bulb linked with thin wire to a battery held in your hand and thanks to the heat it could still be held high, not free of course. Or else insert a small bulb linked to a light battery into the balloon; fill the balloon with hot air, (inflate it) leaving the small bulb inside linked to the light (not heavy) battery. It will float freely without any danger of electric shock or fire. If by bad luck the balloon falls, the bulb and battery being so light in weight it hardly can hurt.
Alfred Demicoli
Dec 17th 2009, 17:05
I think this is the way to ban Christmas lights altogether. Much like the protests in Birmingham some years ago when the council there called Christmas lighting a Festival of Lights. This is the Muslim way forward. Don't agree with it, but that's the way it is. Same will happen with the Crusifix. We will all be wearing Muslim clothes in a few years. Away with the mini skirt and all that.
Giljan Agius
Dec 17th 2009, 16:58
we are really becoming a joyless society..
are there any more fun things left to ban, at this rate?
Joseph Schembri
Dec 17th 2009, 16:52
What about Sky Lanterns ordered over the Internet? Or home made Lanterns? Seems to me that there are a lot more inferior quality Chinese made Christmas lights floating around then there are Sky Lanterns ....