EU Plans Introduction of 'Fire-Safe' Cigarettes

Source from:  tobaccojournal.com 06 Aug 2008 08/12/2008

All cigarettes sold in Europe by 2011 will have to be 'fire-safe' brands, the European Commission announced on Tuesday. European standard-setters are working on rules to mandate self-extinguishing cigarettes to prevent accidental fires, commission spokesman Ton van Lierop said. Data from 16 European countries show that careless use of cigarettes such as smoking in bed caused 11,000 fires annually between 2005 and 2007, killing 520 people and injuring 1,600. Current reports claim the price of the packets of new cigarettes would not be changed. Self-extinguishing cigarettes have already been launched at markets in Canada, Australia and 37 US states. Enditem