Oregon Cigarettes Exclusively 'Fire-Safe' in 2008

Fire-Safer Cigarettes now for sale at Oregon retail outlets.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - As of January 1st, 2008 only fire-safer cigarettes are allowed to be sold in Oregon. The law, passed by the Oregon Legislature and signed by Governor Kulongoski in April 2007, allowed wholesalers and retailers until December 31, 2007 to eliminate their current stock of non-fire safe cigarettes.

"The fire-safer cigarette technology uses specially designed paper with ‘speed bumps' to act as small fire breaks," says State Fire Marshal Nancy Orr. "When not puffed on, the burning tobacco will reach one of these speed bumps and self-extinguish."

Fire-safer cigarettes, also known as reduced ignition propensity or low ignition propensity cigarettes, are identified with the following markings near the universal product code (UPC):

• The marking FSC (the most common marking)

• A heavy black line above the UPC

• The letters FS, RIP or LIP near the UPC

• A diamond symbol near the universal product code

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Retailers may only sell cigarettes identified with a fire-safer marking located near the universal product code or on the cellophane wrapping on the pack or carton. Violators may be fined up to five times the retail value of the cigarettes involved or $1,000, whichever is greater.

More information on fire-safer cigarettes is available at: oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/Safer_Cigarette_Program.shtml.