Dangerous cigarette lighters to be banned from sale

Date published: 15/05/2006

Dangerous cigarette lighters are to be banned from sale in Rochdale in a bid to cut deaths and injuries from fire.

With over a billion lighters sold in the EU every year the European Commission estimates that almost three quarters of them are not compliant with existing health and safety requirements.

A new EU law means that from next year cigarette lighters must be fitted with child resistant devices, costing around 3p each, and those not meeting the strict new requirements cannot be sold.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) claim that making lighters safer will make a massive difference in preventing horrific fires that can devastate families.

In the US where child resistant lighters were introduced in 1995 there has been a 60% reduction in fires, injuries and deaths caused by children under 5.

The decision is expected to prevent 5 deaths and 220 injuries each year in the UK.

Rochdale Euro-MP Chris Davies has welcomed the new law as a ‘sensible precaution’.

The Liberal Democrat MEP said:  “Children can all too easily get their hands on cigarette lighters from their parent’s bags and pockets.

“If spending an extra few pence on making the lighters saves only one burn then it has to be worth it.”

The new ban also covers novelty cigarette lighters that are shaped as toys.

It is believed that the European Commission will launch a joint project with national authorities to ensure the ban is fully implemented.