Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity

Source from:  philipmorrisusa.com 12/28/2007

Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity describes cigarettes that demonstrate reduced ignition propensity in certain laboratory tests. PM USA supports federal legislation to set forth a uniform, national standard for reduced cigarette ignition propensity. This would ensure that all manufacturers and importers - regardless of size or location - would be required to satisfy the same standard, and also eliminate the possibility of a patchwork of inconsistent and conflicting state and local regulations. We believe that any federal standard developed on this issue should not result in an increase of the known health risks of smoking and permit the sale of cigarettes that are acceptable to adult smokers. More specifically, PM USA supports federal legislation to establish a performance standard equivalent to the standards adopted in New York. This legislation would preempt state and local standards and designate the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as responsible for implementation and enforcement. At the federal level, the CPSC has been developing expertise on cigarette ignition propensity for many years. We believe the CPSC should be the agency mandated to implement a national standard. The Commission already has the resources and expertise to perform the necessary scientific work required to successfully implement a cigarette ignition propensity standard nationwide. Due to a lack of a federal standard, some states have considered legislation to require tobacco manufacturers to comply with separate state standards. While we believe that a national standard is the best way to address the issue, we do not oppose state regulations that are consistent with the requirements currently in place in New York. We believe conflicting state-to-state standards would be an undue burden on interstate commerce. As of the beginning of September 2007, there were 22 states with laws establishing a statewide standard for cigarette ignition propensity: New York (effective June 28, 2004), Vermont (effective May 1, 2006), California (effective Jan. 1, 2007), Oregon (effective July 1, 2007), New Hampshire (effective Oct. 1, 2007), Illinois (effective Jan. 1, 2008), Maine (effective Jan. 1, 2008), Massachusetts (effective Jan. 1, 2008), Kentucky (effective April 1, 2008), Utah (effective July 1, 2008), Montana (effective May 1, 2008), New Jersey (effective Jun. 1, 2008), Maryland (effective Jul. 1, 2008), Connecticut (effective Jul. 1, 2008), Alaska (effective Aug. 1, 2008), Rhode Island (effective Aug. 1, 2008), Iowa (effective Jan. 1, 2009), Minnesota (effective Jan. 1 2009), Texas (effective Jan. 1, 2009), Delaware (effective Jan. 1, 2009), Louisiana (effective Aug. 31, 2009) and North Carolina (effective Jan. 1, 2010) Currently, many manufacturers, including PM USA, use banded cigarette paper to achieve improved test results and compliance with mandatory standards. The American Society for Testing and Materials - the developers of the test method - indicated that cigarettes with improved test performance are less likely to ignite bedding like mattresses and upholstered furniture like sofas. It is important to note that these cigarettes are not "fire-safe." Anything that burns, if handled carelessly, can cause a fire, including cigarettes with reduced ignition propensity. They should be handled and disposed of properly, just like regular cigarettes. Enditem