Cigarette Certification Program
The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office implements the Fire Standard Compliant (FSC) cigarette program, including public safety education efforts, pursuant to RSA 153:10-c.
New Hampshire law requires that all cigarettes sold or offered for sale in New Hampshire shall meet standards for reduced ignition propensity. This means they must be fire standard compliant. Cigarettes that have been certified under this law must be re-certified by the manufacturer every three years.
About Fire Standard Compliant Cigarettes
Fire Standard Compliant (FSC) cigarettes are intended to limit the risk that cigarettes will ignite upholstered furniture, mattresses, household furniture, or other combustible material and result in fewer deaths, injuries and property loss from fires caused by cigarettes.
The most common method that cigarette companies use to produce FSC cigarettes is by wrapping the cigarettes with two or three thin bands of paper that is less porous than the outer paper tube. The bands act as "speed bumps," slowing down the burning of a cigarette.
FSC cigarettes are designed to be "self-extinguishing" and not burn after the smoker stops actively smoking them.
Program Highlights
All cigarettes sold or offered for sale in New Hampshire must have written certification indicating the cigarettes have been tested in accordance with ASTM E2187-04, "Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes", and have met the performance requirements of ASTM E2187-04. An alternative test method may be approved by the Commissioner if a cigarette cannot be tested in accordance with ASTM E2187-04 due to the unique characteristics of the cigarette (RSA 339-F:4 III).
The intent of the New Hampshire law is to have all cigarettes sold in New Hampshire meet the same testing certification process as New York State that is designed to limit the risk that cigarettes will ignite upholstered furniture, mattresses, household furnishings or other combustible material and result in fewer fire deaths, injuries and property loss from fires caused by cigarettes.
- Manufacturers pay a fee of $250 per brand and style of cigarette. The fee is paid at initial certification, re-certification, and if changes are made to the cigarette.
- The NH State Fire Marshal's Office administers the program, including documentation review, fee processing, and certifying cigarettes for sale.
- Fees collected must be used for a statewide Fire Safety Education program that promotes fire safety and injury prevention.
Background
HB 645 was passed by the 2006 New Hampshire Legislature and was signed into law on May 31, 2006. It went into effect on October 1, 2007. Since that date, only Reduced Ignition Propensity (RIP) cigarettes, i.e. Fire Standard Compliant (FSC) cigarettes may be sold by the cigarette industry to retail outlets in New Hampshire. All fifty states have adopted similar laws requiring FSC cigarettes. The law requires the State Fire Marshal to certify that all cigarettes meet the reduced ignition propensity standard.
Cigarette Certification Process
Each cigarette certified for sale in New Hampshire shall be re-certified every three years and written confirmation shall be submitted following the process listed below (RSA 339-F:6 III).
To obtain approval for sale of cigarettes in New Hampshire, the following information must be submitted:
- A cover letter identifying the cigarette manufacturer and the contact person for the manufacturer.
- Written certification attesting that each cigarette has been tested in accordance with and has met the performance requirement of ASTM E2187-04 including those standards listed under RSA 339-F:6.
- The description of each cigarette listed in the certification must include the brand, style, length in millimeters, circumference in millimeters, flavor, filter or nonfilter, package description (RSA 339-F:6 II) and the packaging marking approved under RSA 339-F:8.
Send all information to:
New Hampshire Department of Safety
Office of the State Fire Marshal
33 Hazen Drive
Concord, New Hampshire 03305
Attention: Sean P. Toomey, State Fire Marshal
If you have questions or require further information, please contact our office.
Phone: (603) 223-4289
Email: fmo@dos.nh.gov
Fax: (603) 223-4295
How do I know if a cigarette that I am purchasing is Fire Standard Compliant?
How do I know if a cigarette that I am purchasing is Fire Standard Compliant?
In New Hampshire, cigarettes that meet fire standard compliance (FSC) must be clearly marked with "FSC" located near the Universal Product Code (UPC) on each pack, carton or case of cigarettes.