Bulgaria EU Commish Proposes "Fire-safe" Cigarettes

Politics » BULGARIA IN EU | July 10, 2007, Tuesday // 00:00
Bulgaria: Bulgaria EU Commish Proposes "Fire-safe" Cigarettes Bulgarian EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection Meglena Kuneva has called for cigarettes to be made fire-safe throughout the whole EU bloc. File photo by Nadya Kotseva (Sofia Photo Agency)

Bulgarian EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection Meglena Kuneva has called for cigarettes to be made fire-safe, Darik News reported.

This measure aims to prevent thousands of fire-related deaths and injuries each year by making all cigarettes sold in EU countries self-extinguishing, European Commission officials said.

If implemented, her proposal would require cigarettes to self-extinguish if not puffed regularly.

Officials at the EU executive said Kuneva would bring forward proposals later this year to make the self-extinguishing cigarettes mandatory throughout the 27-nation bloc.

According to figures from 14 countries, fires started by cigarettes cause tens of millions of euros in damage and kill 2,000 people annually. The change would add 0.01-0.02 euro cents to the cost of a packet of cigarettes.

A spokesperson for Philip Morris said the company supported the plan but indicated that "it must be made clear that this measure alone will not totally prevent fires from burning cigarettes, smokers must also be more responsible when smoking."

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