Multipurpose Lighters

Under the Hazardous Products (Lighters) Regulations, cigarette lighters must comply with labeling, performance and child-resistancy requirements. However, these regulations do not apply to multipurpose lighters (known as barbeque, utility or grill lighters) because they are not for use on tobacco products, even though essential elements of their design, construction and foreseeable use are similar to those for cigarette lighters.

The Product Safety Bureau of Health Canada would like to amend the existing regulations to include mutipurpose lighters.

Health Canada is aware of 15 incidents concerning multipurpose lighters within a recent 24 month period. Most involved performance related safety concerns, but five (33 per cent) were child-play fires. The Bureau is not aware of any deaths related to these incidents, but in the U.S. there have been 65 deaths in the 340 fires started by children.

During the summer of 1999, the Product Safety Bureau conducted a national survey and tested multipurpose lighters. Of the 23 brands tested, 17 (74 per cent) failed to meet performance safety criteria similar to those required for cigarette lighters. Health Canada issued a Public Warning on July 15, 1999.

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