Fireworks and firecrackers vendors have been banned from selling their products to juveniles under the age of 14 in southwest China's Chongqing municipality, according to a newly issued local regulation.

Violators will be fined 50 to 100 yuan (6.25 to 12.5 U.S. dollars), the regulation said.

"It's not a discriminatory policy, it's to protect juveniles," a local legislator who declined to give his name told Xinhua.

The legislator reminded citizens not to store fireworks and firecrackers of more than 10 kg, which are also in breach of the new regulation.

The new regulation came after the city's lifting of the ban from setting off fireworks and firecrackers in the period of Chinese Lunar New Year.

Many citizens welcomed the move but meanwhile worried that their children might be injured by setting off firecrackers without the presence of parents.

This year, 177 Chinese cities, including Chongqing and Beijing,out of the country's total of 660, have decided to lift the ban that has been practiced for years.

The new move will allow residents to set off fire-crackers in designated areas during the Lunar New Year festival.

In November alone, Chongqing reported three cases of fireworks explosions with 14 casualties.

Nationwide, China saw 187 deaths in 87 fireworks explosion accidents in the first 11 months, the State Administration of Production Safety reported Wednesday.

The period between Oct.1 and Nov. 30 saw relatively frequent fireworks accidents, the administration said, adding that 10 accidents took place in the two months, killing a total of 37 persons.

The latest explosion happened on Nov. 27 in Wuqiang County, north China's Hebei Province, killing 4 people and wounding 3 others at an illegal fireworks factory.

The administration blamed the frequency of fireworks explosionson the rampant and illegal production of fireworks.

Nine out of the 10 accidents since October resulted from illegal manufacturing, it said.

At present, China has more than 6,604 fireworks and firecrackers manufacturers and 150,000 distributors, but only 1,815 producers have obtained safety permits.

Source: Xinhua