CPSC Raises Customs Value Threshold of Disposable Butane Lighters for Child Safety Reg

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is raising the customs value threshold under which butane lighters are considered disposable to $2.50. Disposable and novelty lighters have to meet CPSC standards for child resistance. Under CPSC’s regulations, disposable lighters are defined as either (1) non-refillable, or (2) use butane or similar fuels and have a “Customs valuation or ex-factory price under” a certain threshold, now $2.50.

Every five years, CPSC decides whether to adjust the disposable lighter value threshold based on inflation. The value was first set at $2 in 1993, and raised to $2.25 in 2003. CPSC made no changes in 2008.

Although this final rule is effective Aug. 26, CPSC said the value threshold “adjusts automatically” based on the producer price index, and no change to the regulations is required to change the threshold. CPSC’s final rule is for information purposes only, it said.