Non Child Safe Lighters
Law was introduced affecting the retailers,
distributors, importers and manufacturers of cigarette
lighters.
Requirements have been introduced to decrease the numbers of
deaths and injuries resulting from domestic fires started by
young children playing with lighters.
From 11th March 2007, manufacturers and importers are prohibited
from placing non-child-resistant lighters and all novelty lighters
(irrespective of child-resistancy) onto the European Community
market. The requirement for child-resistancy will apply mainly to
disposable lighters.
From 11th March 2008, the ban will extend to sales by retailers and
other distributors, such as wholesalers.
These requirements are additional to the general safety
requirements for lighters detailed in international standard EN ISO
9994:2005.
Child-resistant lighters
A child-resistant lighter is one that cannot be operated by a
child younger than 51 months of age. In order to establish this, a
lighter must meet the child-resistance requirements laid down in
the standard EN 13869: 2002 or conform to rules in non-EU countries
that provide an equivalent level of child-resistance.
The child-resistance requirement does not apply to: * Utility
lighters (over 100mm long intended for lighting candles, barbecues,
fuel for fireplaces, gas fired grills etc.); and * Lighters sold
with a written guarantee of at least 2 years, that are refillable,
and can be repaired by a European-based after-sales service.
Novelty lighters
A novelty lighter includes any lighter that is appealing to
children younger than 51 months of age or has entertaining audio
effects or animated effects. This includes lighters in the shape of
cartoon characters, toys, guns, watches, telephones, musical
instruments, vehicles, human body or parts of the human body,
animals, food or beverages, or that play musical notes, or have
flashing lights or moving objects or other entertaining
features.
Novelty lighters do not include: * Lighters that are printed or
decorated with logos, labels, decals, artwork or heat shrinkable
sleeves; and * Utility lighters (over 100mm long intended for
lighting candles, barbecues, fuel for fireplaces, gas fired grills
etc.).
European Community manufacturers and importers of lighters must
ensure that lighters they import or manufacture for supply on the
Community market after 11th March 2007 are child-resistant. In
addition, they must not import or manufacture any novelty lighters
for supply in the Community after that date, even if they are
child-resistant.
A retailer or distributor may continue to sell existing stocks of
lighters until 11th March 2008. After 11th March 2008, however, it
will be illegal for a retailer or distributor to supply lighters
that are not child-resistant or any novelty lighters (even if they
are child-resistant), irrespective of when they were
obtained.
In addition, manufacturers and importers must retain documentation
demonstrating that lighters they supply meet child-resistance
requirements.
Retailers and distributors of lighters must also keep documentation
to identify where they obtained the lighters they sell. This
documentation must be readily available so that it can be shown to
the enforcement authorities if requested.
Failure to comply with these requirements is an offence under the
General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and the
maximum penalty is a fine of £20,000 and
12 months imprisonment.
Retailers and distributors should seek assurances from suppliers
that any lighters bought in the future comply with the requirements
for child-resistance.
Retailers and distributors are advised not to buy any novelty
lighters in order to avoid being left with stock that must not be
sold after 11th March 2008.
Further guidance on the requirements can be found at the
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
website.
