Zippo Manufacturing Co. announced two victories for the company
Friday.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that
they will remove a ban on allowing airline passengers to carry
disposable and refillable lighters, including Zippos.
This will go into effect Aug. 4.
In addition to that news, the company has won an order to block
U.S. imports of knockoffs from China that copy their trademark
design.
A press release from Zippo explains TSA had implemented Section
4025 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, which
banned all lighters from passenger cabins of commercial airfare in
December of 2004.
As a result, lighters were also banned in carry-on luggage.
Zippo worked intently to communicate with the TSA and legislators
fighting to prove that no evidence supports filled or fueled
lighters posed a hazardous threat in checked luggage.
“We have worked closely with the TSA and the Department of
Transportation on this issue and are relieved to see the ban lifted
in the United States,” said Greg Booth, president and chief
executive officer of Zippo. “We will continue to work with all
national security agencies to ensure that the flying public remains
safe and may purchase our reliable and durable products wherever
they may travel.
He credited the support of Congressman John Peterson, R-Pa., and
senators Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Robert Casey, D-Pa., with
helping Zippo reach the success.
According to an article in the New York Times, Kip Hawley,
assistant secretary for the TSA, said Thursday the ban had done
little to improve aviation security because small batteries could
be used to set off a bomb.
“Taking lighters away is security theater,” Hawley said. “It
trivializes the security process.”
The article adds that officials have been collecting about
22,000 lighters a day at a cost of ,4 million a year.
An arm of the Homeland Security Department, TSA attributed the
policy change as an effort to concentrate resources on detecting
explosive threats.
“Explosives remain the most significant threat to aviation,”
said Hawley in a release. “By enabling our officers to focus on the
greatest threats, we are using our officers’ time and energy more
effectively and increasing security for passengers.”
On Friday, Peterson also commented on the announcement.
“Today’s announcement is a major victory for my district and for
Zippo. I couldn’t be more pleased that this ban has been lifted,
something that I’ve fought hard for. The policy change will
positively impact Zippo’s sales, which, as a result of this ban,
have been hurt in recent years,” said Peterson.
In September of 2006, officials at Zippo said the ban and
counterfeit lighter sales caused hardship for the company, which
led to a layoff of numerous employees.
Booth told area media Friday they figure the company lost
between ,4 and ,5 million annually in lighter sales.
Reports add Booth said some of the employees that had been laid
off have returned to work. The reports also explain that at least
80 employees are on a warm weather leave at this time.
Peterson said, “Zippo is winning in the global marketplace and
now that this ban is lifted I’m confident that this American
company will make up the lost ground.”
Peterson also led the fight to combat Chinese copyrighting
infringements on behalf of Zippo.
The investigation into the copyrighting infringements began on
June 20, 2006.
The order specifically named Chinese companies manufacturing
lighters that have the Zippo Trademark design. They are Tung Fong
International Promotion Co., of Hong Kong; Wenzhou Star Smoking Set
Co., of China; Wenzhou Tailier Smoking Set Co., of China; Vista
Wholesale of Greencastle, Indiana; beWild.com of Bellmore, New
York; and Kalan LP of Landsowne, Pennsylvania.
Settlement agreements were made early in the investigation with
Kalan LP and Wenzhou Star Smoking Set Company.
