§ Mr. WatsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the safety benefits of cigarettes that go out faster than normal cigarettes when not puffed. [166838]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department has not made an estimation of the safety benefits of cigarettes that go out faster than normal cigarettes when not puffed.
United Kingdom legislation on cigarette production and presentation follows European Directive 2001/37/EC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products. The European Commission is due to submit a report on this Directive no later than 31 December 2004. The question of fire safe cigarettes is one issue under discussion in relation to this report, and we await its publication.
Officials are aware of the development of regulations on the ignition propensity of cigarettes in New York and Canada.