A control device for gas appliances comprises a circuit arrangement that includes: —a switching circuit, electrically connected between an electromagnet and a thermoelectric generator of a safety valve of a gas tap; —a control circuit (71), designed at least for counting time and configured for controlling the switching circuit; —a command circuit, connected in signal communication with the control circuit (71) at least for the purposes of setting the aforesaid time interval. The circuit arrangement comprises a power-supply module (50), for low-voltage d.c. supply, and the switching circuit belongs to a control module (40) which is designed to be operatively associated to a respective gas tap. The control circuit belongs to a second control module (60) that comprises a wireless-communication circuit, in particular a transceiver circuit, electrically connected to the control circuit (71) and configured for exchange of signals in wireless mode with a remote electronic programming device, which can be used at least for manual setting of the aforesaid time interval.