Warning

2001-87
August 8, 2001

Hazardous lighters found in stores

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning Canadians of possible dangers associated with certain disposable cigarette lighters sold illegally in Canada.

Health Canada inspectors have recently removed hundreds of disposable lighters from convenience stores, gas stations and other retail outlets in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. The importers of these lighters remain unknown, but are suspected to be individuals buying them in the United States.

These disposable cigarette lighters do not meet the current Canadian safety requirements enforced by Health Canada. They 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.

Disposable cigarette lighters sold in Canada must meet the child resistance, labeling and safety performance requirements of the Hazardous Products (Lighters) Regulations. Lighters that do not show the Canadian address of the importer and bilingual warning statements are usually poorly constructed and thus may be dangerous. Retailers who are caught selling, or offering for sale, non-compliant lighters will have them seized by Health Canada Inspectors and may face prosecution under the Hazardous Products Act.

Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of the Act or its Regulations is liable to a fine of up to $1 million and/or imprisonment for a term of up to two years.

The following brands of lighters have been seized for not meeting Canadian Regulations:

ACTEX, AMERICAN MATCH, AM, BEST, BODA BING, C-LITES, EVERGLIDE, GIL, HAPPY, HARRY, KING, LIBERTY LITES, LIVING PICTURE AG, MAXLITE, ROLLNLITE, SNAPLITE, SPIN-LITE, STRIK'N LITE, SUN, TOUCH LITE, VIVA, WAX.

If you have such a lighter, please stop using it and contact the Product Safety Office nearest you, and give them the location of the store from which you acquired it.

Consumers and retailers should buy only those lighters intended for the Canadian market. They will have a bilingual label, show the name of the Canadian distributor/importer and have the required bilingual warning "Tenir hors de la portée des enfants-Keep out of reach of children."

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

Media inquiries:
Ryan Baker
Health Canada
(613) 941-8189

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991