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2008 SESSION

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SB 208 Reduced cigarette ignition propensity; prohibits manufacture, etc. thereof unless meets standards.

Introduced by: Walter A. Stosch | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE: (all summaries)

Reduced cigarette ignition propensity; civil penalties.  Prohibits the manufacture, sale, or offer for sale of cigarettes within the Commonwealth, or to persons located in the Commonwealth, unless the cigarettes have been tested to determine that they meet a performance standard for fire safety. The test predicts the likelihood that a cigarette will ignite material with which it comes in contact. Cigarette manufacturers are required to file a certification with the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services that their cigarettes meet the mandated performance standard as measured by the prescribed test. Cigarette packages are required to be marked so that compliant cigarettes may be distinguished from those not certified as compliant. The specific mark is determined by the manufacturer, subject to Commissioner approval. This measure provides that cigarettes compliant with similar New York regulations will be compliant with these requirements and that manufacturers may use the same package markings they use in that state. The requirements do not apply to cigarettes sold in North Carolina or South Carolina, or packaged for sale outside the United States.  Violators are subject to civil penalties. Fees assessed on manufacturers and civil penalties collected from violators are deposited in a Cigarette Fire Safety Standard and Firefighter Protection Act Fund, to be split between implementation of this measure and use by the State Fire Marshal in carrying out the Statewide Fire Prevention Code.  The measure will become effective on January 1, 2010, except that a provision prohibiting localities from enacting or enforcing conflicting provisions becomes effective July 1, 2008. The measure will expire on the effective date of any federal reduced cigarette ignition propensity standard that preempts the measure.  HB 228 is identical.

 


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