Texas Cigarette Vendors Have A New Rule To Follow

To comply with a new law that goes into effect Jan. 1st, cigarette vendors will have to ensure they only sell Fire Standard Compliant (FSC) cigarettes.

Fires caused by unattended cigarettes cause between 700 and 900 fatalities in homes across the U.S. each year. In 2006, there were 1,880 cigarette fires in Texas, causing more than $14 million in property losses and damage. In those fires, 10 people died, and 45 were injured, counting 10 firefighters responding to the blazes.

To counter the problem, Gov. Rick Perry signed H.B. 2935, known as the FSCC law, on June 15, 2007.

The law requires that all cigarettes sold in the state be certified fire standard compliant (FSC). It goes into effect Jan. 1st of 2009, but allows a one year grace period to allow retailers and wholesalers to clear non-compliant inventory.

A fire standard compliant cigarette (FSCC) reduces the chance of starting fires because it is self-extinguishing when not being actively smoked.

Cigarette companies make FSC cigarettes by wrapping the cigarettes with two to three thin bands of less porous paper. These bands act to slow down the burning of a cigarette, causing it to self-extinguish.

Similar laws have been enacted over the last several years by other states, so most major cigarette manufacturers are already producing the safer versions of their popular product lines.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office will be in charge of enforcing the law.