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About disposable cigarette lighters

Disposable cigarette lighters, including novelty lighters and cheap refillable lighters, are designed to produce a flame that sets cigarettes or other combustible materials alight.

Risks and injuries from the product

Faulty disposable cigarette lighters can cause burns or serious injuries if they:

  • leak
  • spit and splutter
  • produce an unsafe flame
  • produce an unsafe flame height
  • have sharp edges
  • spontaneously ignite
  • spontaneously explode.

Things to look for when buying the product

Children can suffer serious burns from disposable lighters. For this reason, there’s a mandatory standard that suppliers and retailers must comply with.

Only buy and use disposable lighters that comply with the disposable cigarette lighters mandatory standard.

Design and construction

  • The lighter has a device that stops small children from accidentally operating the lighter.
  • This device may be 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 in order to rotate the spark wheel.

Marks and labels

  • The lighter must be permanently marked with the name of the manufacturer or distributor.
  • The lighter must be marked with the warning.

The warning must include the words:

  • 'Keep away from children', or
  • 'Keep out of reach of children'.

How to use the product safely

Keep lighters out of the reach of children.

Next steps if product is unsafe

When buying a product, consumers have the right to expect the product is of acceptable quality.

Acceptable quality includes that the product is safe, durable and free from defects.

If you bought a product that doesn’t comply with the mandatory standard or is unsafe, you can report it to us.

Report an unsafe product

If a person is seriously injured or needs urgent medical help, call emergency services on triple zero (000).