The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·99041·Announced 1998-12-23

American Hua Mao Cigarette Lighters Recalled Due to Child-Resistant Defect

American Hua Mao Enterprises is recalling about 139,000 cigarette lighters because their child-resistant mechanisms do not work, posing a fire hazard to young children.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product (fire/burn) where the child-resistant safety feature is non-functional, but the source explicitly states that no injuries have been reported.

Plain-English summary

American Hua Mao Enterprises, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling approximately 139,000 cigarette lighters. The affected products are refillable, gas-fueled piezoelectric catalytic lighters advertised as Windproof #L2 and #L3 models. These lighters feature a non-functioning child-resistant lever that, once moved to allow ignition, remains in that position until manually reset, allowing young children to ignite the device.

The lighters were sold in small retail stores and souvenir shops in New York and Maryland from March 1997 through November 1998 for approximately $4 to $6. The #L2 models are two-colored, ceramic-coated metal, oval-shaped lighters, while the #L3 models are copper-colored with a molded horse on the body. Both models were sold in black leather-like cases with the model number imprinted and a stick-on label reading "MADE IN CHINA."

CPSC and American Hua Mao Enterprises are not aware of any injuries involving these lighters; the recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries. Consumers should immediately stop using these lighters and return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund. For more information, consumers can call American Hua Mao Enterprises at (212) 244-1692 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.

The recalled product

Product
American Hua Mao cigarette lighters
Manufacturer
American Hua Mao Enterprises
Category
Consumer Product — Lighters
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same hazard · fire

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