blew fragments of it as far as 175 feet. About 20 windows in the neighborhood were blown out and a power line was knocked down. The boy was blown 35 feet from the truck. M-80 salutes are banned by Kansas law.

A 17-year-old Nebraska boy suffered the loss of his right hand as a result of a fireworks explosion in the backyard at a friend's home in June 1968. Three others were injured in the blast, which could be heard for several blocks and which blew out four windows in the house. The same boy also suffered burns and a number of cuts over his body. Surgery required 52 stitches and the boy may have lost his sight because of the burns. Others suffered lacerations and bruises. One suffered possible hearing impairment. The explosion occurred when one of the youths tossed a lighted firecracker into the air. It came down in a box of fireworks held by the youth who was most seriously injured. The four boys were about to divide the fireworks, which had been purchased in a neighboring State.

Because of continued abuse by certain segments of the fireworks industry, FDA in January 1969 published a proposal to classify all fireworks containing more than two grains of powder (including those used for agricultural purposes) as banned hazardous substances. This proposal was strongly opposed, however, by various State fish and game officials, growers' cooperatives, and other users of crop protection fireworks. The proposal recently has been modified and a final order was published May 13 of this year in a form that takes these objections into account. The regulation goes into effect before the Fourth of July, except for provisions that may be stayed by filing of proper objections.

One of the problems encountered by FDA enforcement officials is that the existing regulations banning hazardous fireworks were promulgated under the statutory section relating to "toys and other articles intended for use by children." The legal problems in proving, when purchases are made by investigators, that this was the intended use, is obvious.

The new regulations promulgated under another statutory section make it illegal to sell the dangerously explosive fireworks, such as cherry bombs, M-80 salutes, and similar items to either adults or children for use as fireworks because the nature and degree of hazard presented by these substances precludes adequate precautionary labeling. The new regulations also

Carol Young, staff writer, Office of Pesticides and Product Safety, Bureau of Foods, Pesticides, and Product Safety, came to FDA in September 1968 from the Injury Control Program of the Public Health Service.

require a system to "keep tabs" on fireworks intended for agricultural purposes.

The new regulations are not intended to ban common fireworks, but to ban only those designed to produce explosions caused by a charge of more than two grains of pyrotechnic composition.

Thus those fireworks intended and used only for bona fide crop protection purposes are still exempt from the ban, but the new regulations require each manufacturer or importer of agricultural fireworks to: submit a sample of each type of such agricultural fireworks to the Division of Hazardous Substances, Food and Drug Administration, Washington, D. C., and each manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer to: maintain a complete record of production or receipt and distribution of such fireworks for at least three years after distribution;

include in the record the proper and complete name and address of the consignee, and the date, quantity, and type of fireworks shipped;

have and make records available for inspection at the request of any authorized FDA agent; have each immediate container for such fireworks fully labeled in accordance with the requirements of the Hazardous Substances Act; and prohibit the distribution of such fireworks in any State which does not specifically provide for the use of such fireworks for crop protection purposes. Today 18 States ban fireworks altogether, allowing only caps and cap pistols. In addition, eight others allow only the popular sparkler. The rest permit the sale and use of some or all fireworks not banned by Federal law.

FDA officials hope that the acceptance and implementation of these regulations will eliminate or at least substantially reduce the needless deaths and injuries to young people that result from illegal traffic in fireworks.