TESTING CERTIFICATION APPROVAL PROCESS - VERMONT FIRE SAFE CIGARETTES
March 6, 2009

RE: Vermont Fire Standard Compliant Cigarettes – Re-Certification for May 1, 2009

The Vermont law (20 V.S.A. 2757) that requires all cigarettes sold or offered for sale in Vermont to meet standards for reduced ignition propensity went in to effect May 1, 2006. Cigarettes certified under this law must be re-certified by the manufacturer every three years. Cigarette manufacturers must now re-certify all cigarette brand styles to be able to continue to sell those brand styles in Vermont after May 1, 2009. The Division of Fire Safety must receive this information prior to April 15, 2009 to ensure processing before the May 1, 2009 deadline.

All cigarettes sold or offered for sale in Vermont 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 if a cigarette cannot be tested in accordance with ASTM E2187-04 due to the unique characteristics of the cigarette.

To obtain approval for sale of fire standard compliant cigarettes in Vermont the following information must be submitted to the Division of Fire Safety:

• A cover letter identifying the cigarette manufacturer and the contact person for the manufacturer.
• Written certification from the manufacturer attesting that each cigarette has been tested in accordance with and has met the performance requirements of ASTM E2187-04 including those standards listed under 20 V.S.A. section 2757(b). Test results submitted from an independent testing laboratory must be accompanied by certification from the manufacturer.
• 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 and the packaging marking approved under 20 V.S.A. section 2757(d).

All packaging for fire-safe cigarettes approved for sale in Vermont must be marked in accordance with 20 V.S.A. section 2757(d). The marking must be uniformly applied on all packages, including packs, cartons and cases of cigarettes marketed by that manufacturer. A manufacturer must use only one marking on all brands approved for sale in Vermont. Each manufacturer must now re-certify the package marking being used for cigarettes sold in Vermont.

Send all information to:

Robert Howe, Assistant State Fire Marshal
Vermont Department of Public Safety
1311 US Route 302-Berlin, Suite 600
Barre, VT 05641-2351

Contact Information:
[phone] (802) 479-7566… [email] rhowe@dps.state.vt.us … [fax] (802) 479-7562

Additional information on the status of the Vermont fire-safe cigarette approval process is here. This website also includes a link to the “Directory of Tobacco Products Approved for Sale in Vermont”, posted on the website of the Vermont Attorney General. This Directory will be revised effective May 1, 2009, to list only those cigarettes that have been re-certified under Vermont law. Cigarette manufacturers must continue to comply with all applicable requirements of 33 V.S.A. sections 1912 through 1924.