Hunan enacts new regulations to strengthen fireworks industry safety

Central China's Hunan province has passed new regulations aimed at tightening safety oversight in its fireworks industry, a signature sector of the province that faces persistent safety risks, according to a news conference held by the provincial legislature on Monday.

The regulations, approved during the 23rd session of the 14th Hunan Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee, took effect on Monday. They consist of eight articles covering corporate accountability, production and sales controls, explosive material management, intelligent monitoring, internal hazard reporting mechanisms, enforcement coordination, and oversight accountability.

The new rules are designed to address long-standing safety violations and improve regulatory enforcement in the industry, according to officials at the news conference.

Hua Xuejian, a member of the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial People's Congress and deputy chair of the social construction committee of the provincial people's congress, described the fireworks industry as a pillar of Hunan's economy and a critical livelihood sector. "We must firmly safeguard the bottom line of workplace safety," he said, adding that the new regulations would help clean up the industry's development environment and promote sustainable growth in the sector.

Li Bingrong, deputy head of the Hunan Emergency Management Department, explained the necessity of the new rules. "For a long time, fireworks manufacturers have been plagued by chronic violations that they repeatedly commit and correct, including exceeding staff quotas, exceeding approved explosive limits, producing beyond permitted categories or design capacity, and arbitrarily changing workshop functions or production processes."

The regulations explicitly designate a broader group as primary safety officers of the manufacturers, including legal representatives, actual controllers, final beneficiaries, and other decision-makers. They also impose strict closed-loop management on black powder, fuses, retired propellants, and precursor chemicals, covering procurement, storage, use, and consumption.

The law requires both electronic and paper ledgers and empowers local emergency management bureaus to scientifically verify annual material needs. Police-issued permits for transporting these materials must not exceed the verified totals.

A new internal reporting reward system addresses the historical lack of safety incentives for frontline workers. Labor-intensive enterprises must allocate a safety fund equal to at least 5 percent of annual payroll, while other companies must allocate at least 10 percent. These funds reward workers who report internal hazards. If an enterprise fails to rectify a reported hazard, the worker could report it to the relevant authorities.

The regulation further mandates closed-off management with face and vehicle recognition for access control and comprehensive video surveillance, with data uploaded to an online government platform in real time.

To combat production violations, the new rule imposes progressively harsher penalties. Offenses such as exceeding worker limits, overloading with explosives, altering workshops, or exceeding production capacity first incur fines of 30,000 to 50,000 yuan ($4,400 to $7,400) and an order to rectify. Failure to comply leads to at least a three-month suspension. In severe cases, such as concealing black powder or fuses, or manufacturing unauthorized A-grade products, the regulation requires revocation of production permits.