Governments question cigarette-lighter ban

By Anna McLauchlin

Date: 26/01/06

At least six national governments are expected to oppose European Commission plans for an EU-wide ban on cigarette lighters that are not child resistant.

So far, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Spain and the UK are expected to oppose the ban at an 8 February meeting, although they cannot block it if all the other national governments support the move.

Consumer organisations have called for such a ban, warning that toy-shaped novelty lighters are attractive to children. If they have no safety device the lighters often have larger flames than normal and can flare up accidentally.

Around 1,200 fires in the EU are caused every year by children under five playing with lighters, around 20 of which prove fatal.

"How many more children need to be harmed before something is done?" asked Gottlobe Fabishe, secretary-general of ANEC, a European consumer association specialising in standardisation issues.

But those member states rejecting the move argue that there is not enough evidence to warrant a full ban on lighters without safety devices.

"We support the Commission's proposal concerning a ban on novelty lighters, but we have yet to be convinced of the need to fit all lighters with childproof devices," said a Danish diplomat.

There are around 39 million lighters sold every year in Denmark and between 10-12 accidents caused by their use. But in the last few years none of the accidents has involved a child, he said.

The proposed ban will be considered by a committee of national experts which reviews the implementation of the product safety directive.

The Commission tried to impose a similar ban in July 2005 but it was dropped amid concerns among some member states that it would present a barrier to trade.

China, which makes around 70% of all novelty lighters and half of all lighters sold in the EU, also lobbied hard against it.

Article reports that at least six national governments were expected to oppose European Commission plans for an EU-wide ban on cigarette lighters that are not child resistant. Consumer organisations had called for such a ban, warning that toy-shaped novelty lighters were attractive to children.