Novelty and non-child resistant lighters ban

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On 11 May 2006, the European Commission introduced new requirements for child resistant lighters and novelty lighters.

The purpose of the Lighters Decision was to reduce the number of deaths and injuries across the EU each year that result from domestic fires started by young children playing with lighters.

• Over the period 1999-2003, an average of 5 deaths and 220 injuries each year were attributed to fires started in this way in the UK (Fire Statistics, United Kingdom, 2003).
• Based on these figures the estimated totals for the European Union were 34-40 and 1,500-1,900 respectively.

The Decision aims to reduce these numbers by removing from the market a category of lighter that is seen to be child-appealing and to ensure that cheap disposable lighters, that are often bought in bulk and casually discarded, are less susceptible to misuse by very young children.

The Decision required measures to prevent novelty lighters being placed on the market from 11th March 2007 and to ensure that disposable lighters placed on the market from the same date were child resistant.

Manufacturers and importers were to be required to keep documentation demonstrating compliance with the child-resistance requirements.

The Lighters Decision required the supply to consumers of lighters not complying with the requirements to be stopped from 11th March 2008.

Businesses engaged in the manufacture, importation, distribution and sale of lighter products who do not comply with the new requirements for placing on the market and supply may be deemed to have committed an offence. Failure to comply with the documentation requirements will likely attract safety notices issued by Trading Standards, the breaching of which will constitute an offence.

A guidance brochure for business has been produced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skill and can be found on their website.

Contact information

• email: ts.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone: 0141 840 3184 (option 2)
• call in or write to us at:
  Renfrewshire Council
  Environmental Services
  Trading Standards
  Renfrewshire House
  Cotton Street
  Paisley
  PA1 1BR