Warning

2003-49
June 24, 2003
For immediate release

Health Canada warns of possible dangers associated with certain lighters

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning Canadians of possible dangers associated with certain lighters, both refillable and disposable, being sold illegally in Canada. The warning applies to both cigarette lighters and utility lighters.

These lighters pose potential fire, injury and burn hazards because they have been known to: explode or leak gas when dropped, continue to burn after the trigger is released, explode or leak gas when exposed to heat, and have excessive flame heights.

Lighters sold in Canada must meet the child resistance, labelling and safety performance requirements of the Hazardous Products (Lighters) Regulations.

Health Canada inspectors have recently removed thousands of disposable and refillable lighters from convenience stores, gas stations and other retail outlets across Canada. These lighters do not meet the current Canadian safety requirements. The importers of these lighters remain unknown, but are suspected to be individuals directly importing them into Canada.

Retailers who are caught selling, or offering for sale, non-complying lighters could have them seized by Health Canada inspectors. Additionally, they may face prosecution under the Hazardous Products Act.

The following brands of lighters are among those seized for not meeting Canadian requirements:

ACTEX, ALPINE, AMERICAN MATCH, AM, BEST, BODA BING, CIG, C-LITES, EAGLE LITES EASYWAY, ELITE, EVERGLIDE, GIL, HAPPY, HARRY, KING, LIBERTY LITES, LIVING PICTURE AG, MAXLITE, MEIBAI 3000, ONE PLUS, REGAL LIGHT, ROLLNLITE, SNAPLITE, SPIN-LITE, STRIK'N LITE, SUN, SUN LITE, TOUCH LITE, W-PUSH-LITE, VIVA, WAX.

If you have such a lighter, please stop using it and contact the Product Safety Office nearest you to inform Health Canada of the location of the store from which you acquired the product. Lighters that do not show the Canadian address of the importer as well as bilingual warning statements are usually being sold illegally and are often dangerous due to poor construction.

Consumers and retailers must buy only lighters intended for the Canadian market. These lighters will show the name of the Canadian distributor/importer and will also have the following bilingual warning: "Keep out of reach of children - Tenir hors de la portée des enfants."

For more information or to report a lighter related incident, consumers and retailers should contact the nearest regional Product Safety Office of Health Canada listed below:

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Media Inquiries:
Margot Geduld
Health Canada
(613) 957-1588

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991