About 17 percent of the fireworks and firecrackers being sold ahead of the Lunar New Year fail to meet quality standards, the quality watchdog said on Monday.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a news conference that it sampled 300 batches of products made by 201 companies in 10 provinces and autonomous regions recently.

About 50 batches made by 43 companies failed to meet quality standards.

Problems with igniter fuses, labels and body thickness were found in the substandard products, it said.

Fireworks and firecrackers are hot sellers during the holidays around China's Spring Festival, which falls on Feb 10 this year.

The administration urged consumers to buy fireworks and firecrackers from certified stores to avoid substandard products.

An illegal warehouse for fireworks in Xingtang county, Hebei province, exploded on Jan 18, killing three people, Xinhua News Agency reported.

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