Recall: Cigarette Lighters Recalled by American Hua Mao Enterprises

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 23, 1998 Release # 99-041

Company Phone Number: (212) 244-1692 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Mark Ross, (301) 504-7076

CPSC, American Hua Mao Enterprises Announce Recall of Cigarette Lighters

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), American Hua Mao Enterprises, of New York, N.Y., is recalling about 139,000 cigarette lighters. These cigarette lighters, which operate with push-button electronic ignition mechanisms to produce the flame, have child-resistant mechanisms that do not work. Young children could ignite the lighters.

CPSC and American Hua Mao Enterprises are not aware of any injuries involving these lighters. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.

These lighters are refillable, gas fueled piezoelectric catalytic lighter and are equipped with a non-functioning child resistant feature, a lever that slides horizontally under the ignition mechanism. Once the lever under the ignition switch is moved over to allow ignition, it stays in that position until manually reset. The lighters are advertised as Windproof #L2 and #L3 models. The #L2 are two-colored, ceramic-coated metal, oval-shaped lighters with round edges. The #L3 are copper-colored and have a horse molded on the body of the lighter. Both models were sold in black leather-like cases with the model number imprinted on it. They have a stick-on-label reading "MADE IN CHINA."

Small retail stores and souvenir shops in New York and Maryland sold these lighters from March 1997 through November 1998 for about $4 to $6.

Consumers should immediately stop using these cigarette lighters and return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund. For more information, call American Hua Mao Enterprises at (212) 244-1692 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. Consumers outside the New York City area can call collect.