N.Y. to Require Self-Extinguishing Cigs

[x635 4,066]

N.Y. to Require Self-Extinguishing Cigs    

Wed Dec 31, 3:57 PM ET  

 

By JOEL STASHENKO, Associated Press Writer  

ALBANY, N.Y. - New York will be the first state to require that all cigarettes be manufactured with paper that extinguishes itself if smokers don't do the job, state officials said Wednesday.

   

Advocates say the regulations, which go into effect in June, will prevent many of the fires started by careless smoking.  

"This could be the beginning of a global standard for cigarettes," said Blair Horner, legislative director for the New York Public Interest Research Group.  

The self-extinguishing cigarettes are wrapped in banded paper, with the bands serving as speed bumps to inhibit burning when no one is puffing on the cigarette.  

State officials said they will allow retailers to sell off inventories of the old cigarettes after the June deadline.  

The lower-ignition paper does nothing to reduce the dangers of smoking.  

Every year approximately 900 Americans die, 2,500 are injured and $400 million in damage is caused by fires started by cigarettes, according to the American Burn Association and the federal government.  

In many cases, smokers fall asleep and their cigarettes drop onto something flammable, such as clothing, furniture or paper.  

[Remember585 815]

Many Kudos to Chris Becker, and members of the WCVFA and others who pushed and pushed this bill to get it passed!!

Hats off fellas!

[Oswegowind 17]

I see a decline in working structure fires, sorry boys.