Brussels, 11/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - As part of its discussions on directive 2001/95/EC on product general safety, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the EU is preparing to debate the legislative proposal on safety lighters. In February, the Commission proposed that manufacturers and importers be required to fit lighters with a safety device to prevent their use by children (see EUROPE 9128). Going on the offensive, on Thursday, Public Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou called on Member States to support this initiative. At little expense, producers and importers could apply safety standards that were the norm in other parts of the world, Mr Kyprianou pointed out, stressing that, since manufacturers refused to apply these standards voluntarily, “we have to legislate”. He added, “The proposal from the Commission is on the table; it is now up to Member States to subscribe to it and help us save lives. I am sure that governments will not turn their backs on European consumers - and children”. Until now, voluntary initiatives have had no effect. There has been a European standard since 2002, but neither manufacturers nor importers comply with it. The Commission now wants to legislate. There would not appear to be anything in way of such legislation, which elsewhere in the world has proved effective and the cost of which for manufacturers and importers is minimal. Since 1995, similar laws on child-proof lighters have come into force in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. According to a 2002 American study, the number of children killed or burned and material damage from fires caused by children have fallen by 60% since the adoption of the law. At the same time, according to an American source, the cost of a lighter could be expected to rise by between 1 and 5 cents of a euro and the effects on the market would be very limited, argues the Commission, clearly disappointed that major European and Asian lighter manufacturers accept the legal requirements for their exports to the United States and other countries where ad hoc legislation exists, but balk at doing so when it comes to Europe.