MN Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal

MN Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal Division Fire Standard Compliant Cigarette Program

Terminology • Fire Standard Compliant (FSC) Cigarette – Commonly Accepted • Reduced Ignition Propensity (RIP) Cigarette – Statutory Reference (MS 299 F. 850 – 859) • Fire Safe Cigarette – Original Reference • Fire Safe Cigarette Coalition • www. firesafecigarettes. org – No such thing as a fire safe cigarette – even the FSC cigarettes – Please do not use this term

What is an FSC Cigarette? • A cigarette that will self-extinguish if: – Left Unattended – Not Actively Smoked • Not fool proof – 25% of the test trial may not meet the testing criteria – This is acceptable under the standard

Why are FSC Cigarettes Important? • National – Leading cause of fatal fires in homes – 700 to 900 smoking related fire fatalities each year – 25% of the fatalities are not the smokers • Minnesota – 4% of structure fires are smoking related – 7 / 40 (18%) of fire fatalities in 2007 – 5 / 32 (16%) of fire fatalities in 2008

What Products Are Included? • Included – Paper Wrapped Cigarettes – Must Contain Tobacco • Not Included – – – Herbal Cigarettes Cigars Little Cigars Pipes and Pipe Tobacco Roll Your Own Cigarettes

Testing Method • ASTM Standard E 2187 -04 – Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes • Testing Laboratories – Independent – Manufacturer’s Lab – Must be ISO / IEC 17025 Accredited • Equivalent Test Method Approved by the State Fire Marshal • Another State’s Fire Marshal

How is the Test Conducted?

FSC Technology

Test Burns

Product Marking FSC • All packages, cartons and cases • Located in the area of the UPC code • Must be uniform • May be stamped, engraved, embossed or printed

Manufacturer’s Requirements • • • Effective December 1, 2008 All cigarettes shipped for sale in MN must be FSC certified Certifications Issued by SFM Three Year Certification $250 Fee per Brand Style New York State – 1, 100 + Certified Brand Styles

Wholesalers / Distributors • Effective December 1, 2008 – Must only ship FSC cigarettes to retailers – Provide each retailer with copy of FSC markings – Must allow SFM, AG, and Commissioner of Revenue access to records • May sell existing stock if stamped prior to 12/1/08 • May house non-FSC cigarettes for sale outside MN.

Retailers • Effective December 1, 2008 must sell only FSC cigarettes • May continue to sell existing inventory if stamped before 12/1/08 • Must allow SFM, AG and Commissioner of Revenue access to records.

Consumers • • This is not an anti-smoking campaign No change in taste No increase in cost No increase in toxicity (Harvard School of Public Health Study) • Look for FSC marking

Fire Service • Reporting – File MFIRS Report – Submit separate report cigarette fire report – Please submit within 24 hours of the • Report form available on the SFM – FSC Web site at www. fire. state. mn. us/FSCMain. htm • Single page form • Needed to track effectiveness of FSC program for report to MN Legislature

Contact for Questions Bob Dahm, Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal 444 Cedar Street, Suite 145 St. Paul, MN 55101 -5145 651 -201 -7202 Robert. Dahm@state. mn. us www. fire. state. mn. us