A number of illegal, non-refillable cigarette lighters, termed novelty lighters, are available for sale from different retail outlets around the Maltese Islands. Decision 2006/502/EC of the European Commission, taken on 11 May 2006 prohibits the placing on the market of these lighters due to their inherent characteristics which make them unsafe for use, especially by children.

These lighters normally come in the shape of a toy, cartoon character, musical instrument, human body or parts of a human body, play musical notes or have flashing lights or other child appealing or entertainment feature. Such features make these lighters appealing to children who use them and become injured through their use. All non-refillable lighters found on the markets are required to be certified as being child resistant.

In view that a number of these lighters can still be found on the local markets even though the Malta Standards Authority had been insisting over the past months that these are illegal, their immediate withdrawal is being reiterated and strongly requested. Retail outlets having such lighters are requested to stop their sale immediately and to contact the agent through whom they have been acquired to ensure a prompt recall of these lighters.

Should these lighters not be immediately recalled from the market, the Market Surveillance Directorate within the Malta Standards Authority will be stepping up its actions, as stipulated by law, to withdraw such products.

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