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“
The
Australian Government has been urged to fast-track a new standard for
reduced fire risk cigarettes, to bring it into force before the next
bushfire disaster. The
Protecting Children from Tobacco coalition of 40 non-government child
welfare, health, medical, church, parent, teacher, research and social
equity organisations* has made the call in an email to
Attorney-General in the wake of the recent devastating bushfires. Following a campaign by fire commissioners, health and science leaders, in September 2008 the government prescribed regulations requiring that cigarettes meet self-extinguishing standards – where 70% of each variety must self-extinguish before burning their full length. The regulations apply to cigarettes manufactured in, or imported into, Australia from March 2010; but the 40 organisations are now asking that the deadline be brought forward to no later than September 2009 – ahead of the next potentially disastrous fire season. Says
ASH Australia board member Professor Simon Chapman of Sydney
University, an initiator of the campaign and co-author of a 2004
report to the government on the issue: “The
tobacco industry has the technology to produce, and is already
producing, reduced fire-risk cigarettes in other jurisdictions
including Canada and some US states and cities. “We’re
asking for Australian tobacco manufacturers to show the kind of
‘can-do’ attitude other Australians have shown in the wake of the
Victorian disaster. “Clearly
the danger of fires is intensifying and we should all do what we can
to reduce the risk. “Cigarette-caused
fires are conservatively estimated to cause an average 14 deaths a
year in Australia. “As
well as bushfires, smouldering butts also start many fires in houses
and cars – with children often the victims. “Overseas,
early signs are encouraging for the impact of this measure on reducing
fires. “We
feel there’s a very strong argument for getting the reduced fire
risk standard into place ahead of the next potentially devastating
fire season.”
Comment / Media info: Stafford Sanders, ASH Australia; Co-ordinator, Protecting Children from Tobacco Ph.
(02) 9334-1823; m.
0412-070-194
*
Protecting Children from Tobacco coalition: full membership at
www.ashaust.org.au/lv4/ProtectChildrenEndorsements.htm
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Page last updated 20/2/09 |
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