CEN has approved a new European Standard on child safety requirements for lighters (EN 13869:2016). This standard sets out requirements and test methods for lighters that are used to ignite cigarettes and other smoking materials. By applying this standard, manufacturers can ensure that their lighters comply with the requirements of EU legislation.

The approved text of EN 13869:2016 was made available to all CEN members on 13 April 2016, and this standard will be published by CEN’s national members in 33 countries before the end of October 2016.

Cigarette lighters are considered inherently hazardous since they produce a flame or heat, and contain fuel, leading to serious risk when misused by children and possibly leading to fire-related accidents. This is particularly true in the case of disposable lighters. It is estimated that up to 40 fatalities and 1,900 injuries per year in the EU countries are due to fire-related accidents caused by children playing with lighters. Child-resistant mechanisms on lighters exist to prevent such accidents and their use is mandatory in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. Following the introduction of these child-resistant requirements in the USA resulted in a 60% drop in the number of accidents.

The European Standard on 'Lighters - Child safety requirements for lighters - Safety requirements and test methods' （EN 13896: 2016） was developed by CEN’s Technical Committee 'Lighters' (CEN/TC 355), of which the secretariat is provided by CEN’s French member (AFNOR). The mechanical test methods for child resistant cigarette lighters present in EN 13869:2016 are based on findings and recommendations from a study undertaken between November 2011 and April 2013, supported by the European Commission.

This request relates to a Decision (2006/502/EC), adopted by the Commission in May 2006, requiring EU 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 so-called 'novelty lighters', in the framework of the EU General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC).

The new European Standard replaces the previous edition (EN 13869:2002+A1:2011) and is intended for citation in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). Once it has been cited in the OJEU, the new standard will enable manufacturers of lighters to demonstrate that their products comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC).