New regulations are expected to be published on Tuesday that will decrease the size of loud petards known as tal-bomba from six to five inches in a bid reduce their force, The Sunday Times has learnt.

The regulations will also limit the number of loud petards fired in one session to six, reducing inconvenience caused to residents.

Government sources said the fireworks inspectorate would also be given more clout to enforce regulations and recommendations that apply to fireworks factories.

Inspections have already been carried out at all fireworks factories, and reports of the findings are expected to be published in the coming months.

A controversial amendment would see a reduction in the distance to 100 metres from 150 metres from which petards can be let off. However, only smaller, less dangerous petards would be allowed within the shorter distance.

The reduction provides organisers of some feasts, restricted by lack of open spaces, with the opportunity to let off fireworks. However, sources said "it will also encourage them to go for less powerful and less dangerous petards".

A new register subject to scrutiny will be created to keep details of what material was bought and used by fireworks factories.

The highly dangerous and polluting potassium chlorate will be capped at just over 1,000 kilogrammes for each factory and all explosive material would have to be accompanied by a material safety data sheet, which would contain information on the properties of the substance.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com