On 14 April 2016, the Official Journal of the European Union published Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/575 extending the validity of Decision 2006/502/EC requiring Member States to take measures to ensure that only lighters which are child-resistant are placed on the market and to prohibit the placing on the market of novelty lighters. It allows the placing on the market of novelty lighters until 11 May 2017.

The Official Journal of the European Union published Commission Decision 2006/502/EC requires Member States to take measures to ensure that only lighters that are child-resistant are placed on the market and to prohibit the placing on the market of novelty lighters on 20 July 2006. The validity of Decision 2006/502/EC was extended by 1-year periods for many times by publication of many commission decisions. Last year, the validity was extended by Decision (EU) 2015/249 until 11 May 2016. This is the 10th extension that extending the validity of such ban to 11 May 2017.

Novelty lighters includes, but not limited to, lighters the shape of which resembles cartoon characters, toys, guns, watches, telephones, musical instruments, vehicles, human body or parts of the human body, animals, food or beverages, or that play musical notes, or have flashing lights or moving objects or other entertaining features, which pose a high risk of misuse by children.

Commission Decision was formulated based on Directive 2001/95/EC on general product safety. Any violation against decision will be notified by RAPEX (Rapid Alert System). In the past few years, RAPEX has taken measures such as withdrawal and destruction towards novelty lighters.

C&K Testing advises businesses should first learn about market surveillance requirements of targeted countries and ensure their products comply with restrictions prior to production and export.


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