Sky lanterns grounded

The Malta Standards Authority has banned the use of Sky Lanterns for being unsafe.

These lanterns originate in East Asia and are used during festivities, fairs and celebrations. They work by igniting a liquid or a small solid fuel slab under a fabric or paper dome-shaped bag which then inflates with the hot gases released from the burning fuel.

The lanterns are then released into the atmosphere where they float haphazardly out of control of the human user. This means that these lanterns may potentially land on flammable or highly combustible materials such as trees, fields and cars, posing an obvious safety 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.