Lighters that are not child-resistant are banned from the markets in the 30 EEA Member States. Imitations or novelty lighters are also prohibited from the market. At the EEA Joint Committee meeting on 10 November 2010, Commission decisions prolonging the ban in the EU were incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
The ban stems from a provision in the Product Safety Directive, which is a horizontal framework directive meant to ensure that consumer products that are available in the EEA are safe for consumers. The prohibition has been prolonged on an annual basis several times since its introduction in 2006, awaiting a revision of a European CEN standard on child resistance for lighters. The current ban lasts until 11 May 2011.