BERLIN, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The president of the German Medical Association on Saturday called for a ban on private fireworks as discussion intensified ahead of New Year's celebrations, citing safety concerns and environmental harm.

Klaus Reinhardt told German media outlet RND that unregulated fireworks frequently cause serious injuries, including to bystanders, instill fear among many people, harm the climate, and generate vast amounts of waste.

He urged federal and state authorities to act decisively to protect the public from the dangers posed by fireworks. In Germany, fireworks can legally be sold from Dec. 29 to Dec. 31.

More than 2.2 million people have recently signed a petition calling for a nationwide ban on private fireworks, initiated by the German police union (GdP), according to German media outlet Zeit Online. Opinion polls show a majority of Germans support such a ban.

However, the federal association for pyrotechnics and fireworks (bvpk) rejected the call for a ban.

Christoph Kroepl, the association's managing director, said that serious accidents involving pyrotechnics occur "almost exclusively with illegal fireworks." He said that legally sold New Year's fireworks are "strictly tested and heavily limited in size and effect." ■