# Shao Chen — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 99-0173  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1999-08-04

99-0173 response to Shao Chen concerning 173.21.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

-
of Transportation
US. Department
20590
seei Program
dministratio
AUG 4 1999
Mr. Mike He
Ref. No.
99-0173
Shao Chen
3805 Simone Gardens #2
Metairie, LA
70002
Dear Mr. He:
This is in response to your letter dated June 26, 1999, regarding
applicability of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR
Parts 171-180) to cigarette lighters containing no fuel.
A cigarette lighter, or other similar device, eguipped with an
ignition element and containing fuel may only be shipped if the
design of the device and its inner packaging has been examined by
a person who is approved by the Associate Administrator for
Hazardous Materials Safety (AAHMS). In addition the device and
its inner packaging must also be approved by the AAHMS.
A
cigarette lighter that contains no fuel or residue thereof and
does not contain any other hazardous material is not subject to
the HMR.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
John A tale
/ Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
12YONI
990173

<<<PAGE 2>>>

06/26/1999 15:28
1-504-4563413
C&H TRADING
PAGE Ø1
Shao Chen
3805 Simone Gardens #2
Metairie, LA 70002
Shao Chen
BAH
Fax
I240 NI
99-0173
TO:
Mr. Cris (DHM-10)
Front Mike He
202-368-3012
Pagear 0+ coversheet
Phone 202-308-4488
Darten June 21, 1999
CCI
• Urgent
O For Review
• Pleaso Comment X Messo Rapty
• Pleasa Racyclo
Dear Mr. Crs:
We Plan to import some lighters without fuel into the USA. We have been told that they are not
regulated by the Department of Transportation. However, our shipper maky needs to make sure what
considered hazardous materials since there is no any fuel inside the lighters, and therefore they are not
department a witten confirmation which states lighters without fuel are not hazardous materials and
we have been told is true and correct. At your earlest convenient, please provide us by your
they are not regulated by the Department of Transportation.
Your response is greetty appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
Mike He

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990173.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `a852d723b7ffd43ad98afb69917a4ff40758e95d309bd8dc4c2edc8199310a44`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T04:31:06.476Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-99-0173`

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