Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 December 2001 on general product safety^f1, and in particular Article 13 thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Decision 2006/502/EC^f2 requires Member States to take measures to ensure that only lighters which are child-resistant are placed on the market and to prohibit the placing on the market of novelty lighters.

Decision 2006/502/EC was adopted in accordance with the provisions of Article 13 of Directive 2001/95/EC, which restricts the validity of the Decision to a period not exceeding one year, but allows it to be confirmed for additional periods none of which shall exceed one year.

Decision 2006/502/EC was amended four times, firstly by Commission Decision 2007/231/EC^f3 which extended the validity of the Decision until 11 May 2008, secondly by Commission Decision 2008/322/EC^f4 which extended the validity of the Decision until 11 May 2009, thirdly by Commission Decision 2009/298/EC^f5 which extended the validity of the Decision until 11 May 2010 and fourthly by Commission Decision 2010/157/EU^f6 which extended the validity of the Decision for a further year until 11 May 2011.

In the absence of other satisfactory measures addressing the child safety of lighters, it is necessary to extend the validity of Decision 2006/502/EC for a further 12 months.

Therefore, Decision 2006/502/EC should be amended it accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Directive 2001/95/EC,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: