All cigarettes to be sold in the EU member states since 2011 will be fire-safe, the European Commission announced Tuesday.

This measure aims to prevent thousands of fire-related deaths and injuries each year by making all cigarettes self-extinguishing.

The proposal was made last summer by Bulgaria's EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection Meglena Kuneva as it requires cigarettes to self-extinguish if not puffed regularly.

According to figures from 14 countries, fires started by cigarettes caused tens of millions of euros in damage, killed 520 people and injured 1,600 in the period between 2005 and 2007.

Current reports claim the price of the packets of new cigarettes would not be changed.

Such self-extinguishing tobacco products have already been launched at the markets in Canada, Australia and some US states.

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