WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today applauded a vote by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to start development of a mandatory safety standard for cigarette lighters. DeLauro wrote to the Commission earlier this year to request it consider the standard after learning that independent studies showed six out of eight lighters failed existing voluntary standard.

The Bic Corp sells four million lighters a day and has corporate headquarters in Milford, Connecticut.

“This mandatory standard can improve the quality and safety of lighters sold in the United States and decrease the potential for fire-related injury to Americans,” said DeLauro. “I applaud the Commission on this vote, which will bring our country one step closer to fire prevention.”

Existing regulations for lighters addresses the risk of fire, death, and injury associated with mechanical malfunction of lighters. A mandatory standard would apply to imported as well as domestically-manufactured products.

From 1997 through 2002, CPSC estimated that 3,015 people went to hospital emergency rooms for injuries resulting from malfunctioning lighters.

According to the CPSC, the mandatory standard could be based on the current voluntary "Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Lighters" (ASTM F-400) to prevent mechanical malfunction of lighters.