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Elite-2 disposable cigarette lighters

CPSC Recall #98-094 — April 8, 1998

Recall Summary

Recall Number98-094
Recall DateApril 8, 1998
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 840,000

Where It Was Sold

Small retailers sold the Elite-2 cigarette lighters nationwide from June 1997 to March 1998 for about $1. 

Product

Elite-2 disposable cigarette lighters

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.

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.

Incidents & Injuries

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

Remedy Instructions

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.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.

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