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

  • Recalled Elite-2 disposable cigarette lighter
Name of Product:
Elite-2 disposable cigarette lighters
Hazard:

The lighters do not meet the 1994 requirement for child-resistant mechanisms in violation of the Consumer Product Safety Act. This act requires a mechanism on disposable and novelty lighters shown to prevent ignition of the lighters by most children under 5 years old.

Remedy:
Refund
Recall Date:
April 09, 1998
Units:

About 840,000

Consumer Contact

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.

Recall Details

Description:

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 a mechanism 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.

Remedy:

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.

Incidents/Injuries:

CPSC and ERA Intermarketing are not aware of any injuries involving these cigarette lighters.

Sold At:
Small retailers sold the Elite-2 cigarette lighters nationwide from June 1997 to March 1998 for about $1.
Recall number:
98-094

Note: Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic. Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

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About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC. 

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