11 March marked the first anniversary of the implementation of the Commission Decision banning novelty lighters and non-child-resistant cigarette lighters from the European market, following the emergency measure adopted by the European Commission in May 2006. ANEC welcomed the ban as an essential step in preventing about 1200 accidents each year and 20 fatalities, mostly children.

Unfortunately, one year on, we note the market is far from being "clean". Both novelty and non child-resistant lighters can still be found on sale in European shops and kiosks.

Stephen Russell, ANEC Secretary-General, said: "We recognise the efforts made during the past year by the national market surveillance and inspection authorities to ensure the ban is upheld, but the evidence is that there is still a lot of work to be done. We will remain vigilant in monitoring the implementation of the ban and continue to urge industry to ensure it respects the Commission Decision and places only child-resistant lighters on the market".

ANEC urges the European Commission to resource joint market surveillance actions between the Member States in order to strengthen market surveillance at the European level and help ensure that unsafe products – such as non-child-resistant lighters – are removed from sale.

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European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation, AISBL Av. de Tervueren 32, box 27 – B-1040 Brussels, Belgium - phone +32-2-743 24 70 - fax +32-2-706 54 30
e-mail: anec@anec.eu - internet: www.anec.eu