The Malta Standards Authority is banning with immediate effect the use of Sky Lanterns; sometimes also referred to as Wish Lanterns. These products have been deemed unsafe and pose a serious risk to consumers.

These lanterns are frequently used during festivities, fairs and celebrations. They operate by igniting a liquid or a small solid fuel slab which is located and held in place at the lower extremities of a fabric or paper dome-shaped bag which inflates by the action of hot gases being released from the burning fuel.

Once inflated, the lanterns are released into the atmosphere where they float haphazardly out of control of the human user. Such mode of operation may cause the lantern to glide onto flammable or highly combustible materials such as houses, fields and cars, thus posing an obvious risk to third party individuals and property.

Due to these risks, such lanterns have already been banned in several other European states and are known to have been the cause of igniting fires in other countries.

The Malta Standards Authority advises economic operators to refrain from placing on the market, selling or giving these lanterns to consumers. The use of these lanterns is therefore not being allowed anywhere in Malta.

Operators are also advised that if these lanterns are found to be on the market during inspections carried out by the Market Surveillance Officers, the economic operator will be liable to legal action as prescribed by law.

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