CPSC, ERA Intermarketing Co. Inc. Announce Recall of Disposable Lighters

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), ERA Intermarketing Co. Inc. of City of Industry, Calif., is recalling about 840,000 Elite-2 disposable cigarette lighters. The lighters do not meet the 1994 requirement for child-resistant mechanisms in violation of the Consumer Product Safety Act. This act requires amechanism on disposable and novelty lighters shown to prevent ignition of the lighters by most children under 5 years old. Each year, CPSC estimates 190 deaths are caused by children under 5 years old playing with lighters.

CPSC and ERA Intermarketing are not aware of any injuries involving these cigarette lighters. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.

The Elite-2 lighters are made of clear plastic tinted in assorted colors. The metal top is labeled "ELITE," and the lighter label bears the bar code: "16229 12001" and the date code, "3/97."

Small retailers sold the Elite-2 cigarette lighters nationwide from June 1997 to March 1998 for about $1. Consumers should stop using these lighters immediately and return them to ERA Intermarketing for a full refund, including postage, at:

Product Recall
ERA Intermarketing Co., Inc.
200 S. 5th Avenue
City of Industry, CA 91746

For more information about this recall, consumers should call ERA Intermarketing Co. Inc. toll-free at (888) 682-2388 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT Monday through Friday.

CPSC discovered this defective product as part of ongoing import surveillance in conjunction with the U.S. Customs Service.