MN Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal Division

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MN Department of Public SafetyState Fire Marshal
Division

• Fire Standard Compliant
• Cigarette Program

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Terminology

• Fire Standard Compliant (FSC) Cigarette
• Commonly Accepted
• Reduced Ignition Propensity (RIP) Cigarette
• Statutory Reference (MS 299F.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

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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

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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

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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

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Testing Method

• ASTM Standard E2187-04
• Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition
  Strength of Cigarettes
• Testing Laboratories
• Independent
• Manufacturers Lab
• Must be ISO / IEC 17025 Accredited
• Equivalent Test Method Approved by the State Fire
  Marshal
• Another States Fire Marshal

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How is the Test Conducted?
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FSC Technology
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Test Burns
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Test Burns
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Test Burns
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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

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Manufacturers 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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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/FSC/FSCMain.htm
• Single page form
• Needed to track effectiveness of FSC program for
  report to MN Legislature

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Bob Dahm, Chief DeputyState Fire Marshal
Contact for Questions

• 444 Cedar Street, Suite 145
• St. Paul, MN 55101-5145
• 651-201-7202
• Robert.Dahm_at_state.mn.us
• www.fire.state.mn.us