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Post by bigtop on Nov 27, 2019 13:49:47 GMT -5
Here is a link to a couple of Liuyang Hunan fireworks companies facebook pages with some info about this issue. www.facebook.com/pg/daniel.wizardfireworks/posts/www.facebook.com/Dun-Pai-Fireworks-104503657630072/I found these on the Pyrocommunity fireworks forum. The information about this came to me first from my supplier in China and I have been contacted by another importer about this issue. So this is real and might lead to a ban on the export of 6" shells from China very soon. As I understand it any 6" shells currently being exported are subject to inquiry about the shells and possible testing. If they decide to ban the export of 6" shells that is the end of 6" shells from China. This happened because Chinese Authorities have turned their attention to the classification of 8" and 6" shells. Recently there has been a major reorganization of the customs export system in China. This was also part of the reason for the fireworks shipping stoppage out of China last spring. Last Month Changsha customs (Changsha is the customs authority for the Liuyang Hunan fireworks manufacturing area) announced a ban on the export of 8 inch shells. The info on the 8" shell ban came from my china supplier and another importer from China. They tested 6" and 8" shells from 1 factory and found the 8" shells to be 1.1G and the 6" shells to be close to 1.1G. The factories in China are currently working on the classification question of 6" shells. There has been at least 1 currently unsubstantiated report that Changsha customs is already classifying 6" shells as 1.1G. If they this is true that would mean that the export of 6" shells would be subject to an export ban as well. It is a pretty sure bet that all the customs authorities will follow the lead of Changsha Customs as it is the customs authority that clears the fireworks from the largest fireworks manufacturing area in China. |
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Post by felix on Nov 28, 2019 7:48:34 GMT -5
I read the same story on another forum, and thought it could be fake. But after further research it is very genuine.
With the ever shrinking budgets and firing sites, I have seen less and less 6" shells onsite. This would not effect me dramatically, expect for the hundreds of 6" guns in storage.
It is unfortunate that this is happening. We have always felt that the regulations in North America would continue to stifle our industry, but it seems more apparent that it is China that controls our industry.
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Post by pyrot on Dec 6, 2019 1:42:36 GMT -5
Honestly, I don't think this is a real big issue for most of us. In the last 4 years/10 shows, only 2 even used 6" shells (same show 2 different canada days) One we shot 2 6' and the other we shot 3. Most of the effects that used to be exclusively in 6", are pretty much all available in 5" - with a not too noticeable difference. And if you are really set on shooting 6" - well there are many other suppliers available other than China.
I have also found that there are several Italian and a few spanish manufacture's 4" shells that are comparable to a chinese 6" shell - at lightly less cost !!!!!!!
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Post by Aussie on Dec 6, 2019 10:14:42 GMT -5
I know one company has figured out a work around with additional packaging
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Post by bigtop on Dec 6, 2019 11:17:31 GMT -5
I know one company has figured out a work around with additional packaging Do you know if this company has already exported from China in the additional packaging? I am asking because the situation as I understand it is first the shipping company requires powder weights and composition info on the 6" shells. Then the shipping company sends sample shells to an independent lab to be cut open and checked for compliance to the submitted powder weight and composition info. If the lab finds the shells the same as the submitted info (the main point being the flash powder content) the shipping company will ship the 6" shells Then when Chinese customs receives the shipment to clear it for export they do a UN6b test (bury it in the ground and ignite it to check to see if all the shells go at once or not). If they all go at once they are refused because the test result is 1.1G. This is frustrating because I have already had UN6b testing done by the Chinese National Authority on my 6" shells and they have tested 1.3G. It is typically only 6" shells that have a high flash powder content that will test 1.1G. The Chinese customs are ignoring any testing results reported by their own National Authority. It's like CERL tested your fireworks and declared them 1.3G and then Canada Customs says no we don't accept that. It seems that 6" shells will continue to be exported from China, it is just a matter of how. Hopefully they will still allow the export without the additional packaging as this will increase cost. Shipping cost from China is a significant percentage of the cost of fireworks in Canada. The one good point about this is it will eliminate the high flash powder content 6" shells that are actually 1.1G which will make shipping and storage safer. I know that some of you do not use many 6" shells but as a distributor I still sell lots of 6" shells so there are shooters using them in large quantities. |
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Post by Aussie on Dec 9, 2019 17:15:41 GMT -5
I can’t post a photo
Look up Christin Ou on Facebook
She has a photo of Thick cardboard between shells stating
“Customs has allowed 6” and 8” to ship in those fashions
Dave
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Post by bigtop on Dec 11, 2019 13:17:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Aussie.
I just had several hundred cases of 6" shells go through the first step of clearing the new system for inspecting/testing 6" shells. The testing lab selected 4 shells. 2 were Vortex Thunder and Silver Tail to Reports. Both are shell of shells with salutes inside. The other 2 were color shells. All of these shells have substantially less flash powder than the 25% where the UN Default Classification Table rules them as 1.1G. The lab declared over 25% flash powder which is incorrect. We took it up with the manager of the lab by presenting the technical information and the UN6B tests and showing how the lab had calculated the flash powder content incorrectly. The Manager agreed and passed the shells for shipment.
These shells are packaged in the usual boxes 9/1 and 10/1 with no additional cardboard or other packing.
Now the containers will go to Customs where they may be tested again so I will post the result of that when it happens.
It seems that the Chinese are applying the 25% flash powder content rule from the UN Default Fireworks Classification Table. Canada has applied the 25% flash powder rule since 2005. There are some problems with the testing in China. Hopefully the end result will be we can still get 6" shells and the shells that really are 1.1G are classified properly. It would not be good for the industry if one day a container of 1.1G 6" shells blows up at someones storage at 1.3G distances and kills or injures someone. No one wants people to get hurt or killed and the regulatory response to such an incident would likely not be good for the industry.
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rosafi
Junior Pyro Member
Posts: 82 
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Post by rosafi on Dec 13, 2019 11:24:53 GMT -5
Seems like there will be a work around to allow for 6 inch shipping, but I can't help but feeling that there are forces working to make shipping fireworks out of China more and more difficult.
There's been a accident at what I understand to be a firecracker factory which has apparently ceased production in Liuyang (yet again). They routinely close production when dignitaries visit or a important event happens. More and more delays seem to be happening.
One of the things that has me pondering... From the links provided in this thread comes this statement:
"It depends on the powder weight. In past years, we used to do samples for the test, what customers received might be little bit stronger."
There are more statements/comments of the same.
So is this part of the problem? Manufacturers knew there was a problem with the shells they were making - offered one variation to the inspectors for testing and qualification and then shipped out a different item to their customers?
Is this why some sellers claim their 6's look like 8's?
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Post by bigtop on Jan 6, 2020 12:09:47 GMT -5
As promised in my previous post here is what happened when the containers arrived at export customs in China. Much to our surprise there was no mention of the 1.1G/1.3G 6 inch shell issue. I can only assume that the lab results from the shipping company inspection were accepted. Instead the containers were refused for export because the fireworks were from a different province than the one they were being exported through. With the help of a factory from the province of export we were able to negotiate the export of the containers after about a week of delay. We had heard about a similar export policy in another province but not in the province we were exporting through. This is another example of the unstable situation of fireworks regulation in China.
In my opinion the regulatory difficulties in China are not specific to fireworks. The Chinese government will take action with no concern for industry or the supply chain if it wants to do something. They have been trying to reduce injuries and deaths in industry and stop corruption. They have been jailing or executing people for corruption when there has been an industrial accident caused because the local officials were looking the other way due to corruption. I think this is resulting in local officials scrambling to make sure everything under their watch is within regulations when they feel the attention is on them.
The result of the latest action on 6" and 8" shells is that the 25% flash powder rule from the Default Fireworks Classification Table is being applied in China. This result is good as shipping and storing 1.1G material as 1.3G could result in a terrible accident. The bad side is the way China introduces new regulatory measures is disruptive and expensive for industry.
As for 6" shells looking like 8" shells flash powder is not the best way to achieve a bigger burst from a shell. Flash powder will burst the shells very large but reduces the duration substantially. Flash powder tends to burn up a lot of the stars material and the high speed the stars are projected at by a flash powder burst charge also burns the stars faster. That 6" shell that bursts huge but only burns for 1 second probably has a flash powder burst charge.
Even if a flash powder burst charge is used in a shell there is no reason to have more than 25% flash powder by weight. 25% flash powder is more than enough to burst a shell as big and fast as you could want. Going over 25% flash powder is more about making a big flash and a bang.
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rosafi
Junior Pyro Member
Posts: 82
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Post by rosafi on Jan 13, 2020 15:55:45 GMT -5
As promised in my previous post here is what happened when the containers arrived at export customs in China. Much to our surprise there was no mention of the 1.1G/1.3G 6 inch shell issue. I can only assume that the lab results from the shipping company inspection were accepted. Instead the containers were refused for export because the fireworks were from a different province than the one they were being exported through. With the help of a factory from the province of export we were able to negotiate the export of the containers after about a week of delay. We had heard about a similar export policy in another province but not in the province we were exporting through. This is another example of the unstable situation of fireworks regulation in China. Does this mean you have had a container leave China recently then? What port did it sail from? |
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Post by bigtop on Jan 14, 2020 19:00:19 GMT -5
Yes I have containers that left China via Shanghai which is the only port that allows fireworks at this time.
Beihai via Hong Kong was the only other route that allowed fireworks shipping but fireworks are now not allowed because of the unrest in Hong Kong.
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Post by bigtop on Jan 14, 2020 19:03:58 GMT -5
I should note that unlike Canada China clears shipments for export at the province where the goods are loaded in the container not at the border where it exits the country.
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