Philip Morris forced to incinerate 20 million cigarettes in Finland

Source from:  Xinhua 05/17/2010

Tobacco company Philip Morris was forced to destroy 20 million cigarettes because of a new law requiring that all cigarettes sold in the country be self-extinguishing, local media reported Thursday. According to the report, 20 million cigarettes were burned under the supervision of Finnish Custom in Riihimaki, some 70 kilometers north of Helsinki. The cigarettes had a retail value of five million euros (6.35 million U.S. dollars). Philip Morris Finland said the incineration resulted in a significant financial loss for the company. From April 1, 2010, Finland became the first country in Europe to require the self-extinguishing standard. Cigarettes that fails the new standard were banned thereafter. The move was an effort to reduce the number of fires accidentally sparked by lit cigarettes. Smoking is the most frequent cause of fatal fires in Finland. Often, victims throw lit cigarettes into the trash or fall asleep while smoking. Authorities believe the new rule could prevent 15 to 20 fire-related deaths every year in Finland. Enditem