Standards authority on lookout for disposable lighters and dangers to children

A recent survey across 11 European countries found that one in ten respondents have had or know someone who has had an accident linked to a pocket lighter.

Nearly 75% per cent of imported lighter models tested by PROSAFE, the Product Safety Enforcement Forum of Europe, do not meet the safety standards requirements in the EU despite a European Commission’ decision to ban the marketing of non-compliant lighters.

The Malta Standards Authority says that safeguarding young children – especially those under 5 – from the dangers of non-refillable (disposable) lighters is of serious concern to many parents whose children have been exposed to the dangers of the design and manufacture of disposable lighters.

In step with market surveillance authorities and consumers across Europe, the MSA has been active over the last three years in removing those disposable lighters that are not compliant with the EU ban from the Malta market.

During 2010, the Market Surveillance unit in Malta inspected 182 different samples of lighters, referring to PROSAFE guidelines for the appropriate identification checks made on-site.

Michael Cassar, head of the MSA’s Market Surveillance Directorate, stated: “Up until now, we have experienced no injuries of children in Malta through the handling of disposable lighters that are not compliant with EU legislation. But we still take our precautions to preclude this. The Joint Action with PROSAFE is one way we are ensuring that our efforts are properly coordinated in this respect.”

Cassar says many manufacturers and importers bypass border patrols, not declaring products that are lighters under the title: lighter.

“As a result, Malta Customs check every consignment of lighters. Certificates, too, are checked for anomalies. These anomalies can give clues as to the false identification of products intended for import into Malta. And in some cases, they have sent lighters that do not conform to EU specifications, for testing in the UK,” Cassar said.

Current European lighter imports taking place at the Port of Rotterdam from China and other Far Eastern countries place a heavy burden on the Dutch ports authorities with some 900,000 non-food containers passing through that port every year.

As a result, BIC, the manufacturer of compliant disposable lighters, has made a formal complaint to the European Commission in order to force the Dutch authorities to take appropriate action, having exhausted all other means of resolving the problem with their cooperation.

A new poll published by BIC and independent pollsters APCO Insight shows that nearly 87 per cent of Europeans are worried by information that pocket lighters with the capacity to kill and maim are openly on sale across the continent.