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Child-resistant and Novelty Lighters Requirements

The effect of the new requirements will be to prevent lighters (mainly disposable lighters) that do not have a child-resistant mechanism from being placed on the Community market from 11^th March 2007, and to similarly prevent the placing on the market (from the same date) all child-appealing novelty lighters irrespective of child-resistancy. There will also be a requirement (from the same date) for producers and importers of lighters to retain documentation demonstrating compliance with the child-resistancy requirements. 

These Commission Decisions do have to be renewed after twelve months and it is intended that this one will be renewed without break.  It is further intended that the renewed Decision will additionally call for the supply of non-child-resistant lighters and child-appealing novelty lighters to consumers to be stopped from 11^th March 2008.

The DTI carried out a short consultation on the new requirements during July/Aug 2006. A summary of the responses recieved is available on the right.

No new legislation has been introduced to implement these requirements in the UK. Instead, the local authorities have been directed (under Regulation 35(2) of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR)) to use their powers under the GPSR to enforce the new requirements where voluntary compliance is not evident. 

A copy of the Directive to local authorities, which includes a copy of the Commission Decision, and the guidance on the new requirements that we have produced for businesses, can be found on the right-hand side of this page.

Contact Michael Porter for further information: 020 7215 6078, Michael.porter@berr.gsi.gov.uk