In a bid to help reduce the numbers of children killed or injured in accidents caused by lighter misuse, novelty lighters, including those that might appeal to very young children have been banned from sale.
Retailers must immediately stop selling novelty lighters.
Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Officers will now be responsible for enforcing the new law. Lighters that resemble cartoon characters, guns, toys, vehicles, or animals, or that play music, have flashing lights, moving objects, animated effects or other entertaining features are amongst those prohibited.
Mark Ryder, Head of Warwickshire Trading Standards said:
“The sorts of lighters that are now banned include those that children might easily have mistaken for toys. However, they were never toys and retailers must no longer supply them to consumers.
We are already, and will continue to work with retailers to ensure that they are fully aware of the law.”
It is estimated that between 1,500 and 1,900 injuries and 35 to 40 fatalities across the EU each year are due to fire related accidents caused by children playing with lighters.
Retailers have had a year to prepare for the ban and clear their remaining stocks after the manufacture or importation in to Europe of novelty lighters was prohibited in March 2007.
Retailers who fail to comply with the legislation could find their stocks seized or its supply being suspended. Retailers could also face prosecution and a fine if convicted of up to £20,000.
In addition, (with some minor exceptions), all lighters must now be child resistant.
Retailers are prohibited from supplying novelty lighters to consumers under Regulation 35(2) of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
The ban came into force on 11th March 2008. |