More than 25 percent of the fireworks on sale in the Netherlands do not meet government safety requirements. The Dutch traditionally celebrate the New Year by setting off huge amounts of fireworks.

On Thursday, the environment ministry's inspectorate published its report on firework safety standards and found that the percentage of substandard fireworks has been more or less consistent for the last decade. “This needs to improve,” a spokesperson said. Last year, the average quality was a little higher, but “the trend did not continue,” the inspectorate said.

Every year, the ministry’s inspectors test a selection of the fireworks imported into the Netherlands. They check whether the fireworks are likely to fall over when set off, whether they explode at a safe height and how long it takes for the fireworks to explode after being lit. The inspectors also check the amount of gunpowder in the fireworks.

(gsh/hs)

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