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Products the mandatory standard applies to
Disposable cigarette lighters are flame producing devices that are:
- designed to light cigarettes, cigars and pipes, and
- designed to be discarded when its fuel supply is exhausted, or incorporate a separate container of fuel that is designed to be discarded when empty, or be refillable with fuel
- is not a refillable repairable lighter within the meaning of the European Standard EN 13869:2016 if the device is designed to be refillable.
The mandatory standard for disposable cigarette lighters includes:
- all disposable cigarette lighters
- novelty lighters
- certain refillable lighters.
There is also a permanent ban on toy-like novelty cigarette lighters.
Complying with the mandatory standard
The mandatory standard sets out the requirements for:
- child resistance
- labelling
- testing and performance.
This information is an overview of how to comply with the mandatory standard. Suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.
View the full detail of the mandatory standard.
Child resistance
All lighters must meet requirements for child resistance.
Lighters must have a device which stops small children from accidentally operating the lighter.
Such devices may include:
- a button that must be activated before it can work
- a release catch that enables the spark wheel to be used, or
- a metal guard that must be pressed firmly to rotate the spark wheel.
Labelling
Lighters must be permanently marked with the name of the manufacturer/distributor and the warning, "KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN" or "KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN".
Lighters sold in packages at retail outlets must also carry warning labelling on the packaging.
Testing
The mandatory standard includes features you can visually check and specifies testing to ensure disposable cigarette lighters meet performance requirements. Suppliers should organise product testing through specialist testing laboratories.
Performance
The standard requires disposable cigarette lighters to meet performance requirements including:
- flame heights
- spitting and spluttering
- non-hazardous burning behaviour
- flame extinction
- resistance to damage when dropped
- resistance to internal pressure.
Mandatory standard details
The Consumer Goods (Disposable Cigarette Lighters) Safety Standard 2019 sets out the mandatory requirements for the supply of disposable cigarette lighters.
The mandatory standard allows compliance with either of the:
- American standard, ASTM F400-10:2010 Standard Consumer Safety Specifications for Lighters, or
- European standard, EN 13869:2016 Lighters – Child Safety Requirements for Lighters - Safety Requirements and Test Methods. The European standard EN 13869:2016 incorporates the requirements of EN ISO 9994 Lighters – Safety specification.
The accompanying Explanatory Statement has further information.
You can buy the American and European standards from Intertek Inform or Accuris.
We can make a copy of these standards available for viewing at one of our offices, subject to licensing conditions.
When a product does not comply
Fines and penalties may apply for failure to comply with a mandatory safety or information standard. For more information, see fines and penalties.
Suppliers may need to recall a product when it doesn't meet the mandatory standard or is potentially unsafe.
