MEP backs fire safer cigarettes campaign
20 September 2007
Statement by Jim Allister MEP:
“I welcome the initiative by Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service in promoting the campaign for fire safer cigarettes throughout the EU.
Under the EU General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) the Commission could initiate moves to ask the European Standardisation Committee (CEN) to adopt new standards for a product that is considered unsafe. Such is technically possible in respect of cigarettes. Fire safer cigarettes, also known as “reduced ignition propensity” or “RIP” cigarettes, are designed to go out if not repeatedly puffed on by the smoker. This is achieved through ultra-thin bands of “speed bumps” placed at intervals down the length of the cigarette.
Thus, instead of the cigarette continuing to burn when a smoker falls asleep in bed, it goes out. Given the number of accidental fires which result from such carelessness, anything which can reduce the risk is well worth pursuing. Last year in Northern Ireland the Fire Service attended 69 accidental dwelling fires caused by careless use or disposal of smoking materials, resulting in over 40 casualties.
In 16 US states and in Canada such a fire safer standard is already in place. Such should also now be introduced within the UK and the EU in general. I, therefore, support the call from UK Fire & Rescue Services for the Commission to promote such a proposal and in this regard I am pressing the Commission through parliamentary questions to take early action.”
