House Bill 1785-First Edition

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2007

H 1

HOUSE BILL 1785

Short Title: Fire-Safe Cigarette Act.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Insko, Glazier, Cotham (Primary Sponsors); and Harrison.
Referred to:	Judiciary I.

April 19, 2007

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to require cigarette fire‑safety by adopting a cigarette fire‑safety standard.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1. Title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Fire‑Safety Standard and Firefighter Protection Act."

SECTION 2. Findings. The General Assembly finds:

(1) Cigarettes are the leading cause of fire deaths in this State and the nation.

(2) Each year in the United States, 700‑900 persons are killed due to cigarette fires, and 3,000 are injured in fires ignited by cigarettes, while in this State, there were 2,916 cigarette-related fires in North Carilina during the period 2001-2006.

(3) A high proportion of the victims of cigarette fires are nonsmokers, including senior citizens and young children.

(4) Cigarette‑caused fires result in billions of dollars of property losses and damages in the United States and millions of dollars in this State.

(5) Cigarette fires unnecessarily jeopardize firefighters and result in avoidable emergency response costs for municipalities.

(6) In 2004, New York State implemented a cigarette fire safety regulation requiring cigarettes sold in that state to meet a fire safety performance standard; in 2005, Vermont and California enacted cigarette fire safety laws directly incorporating New York's regulation into statute; and, in 2006, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts joined these states in enacting such laws.

(7) In 2005, Canada implemented the New York State fire safety standard contained in the other state laws, becoming the first nation to have a cigarette fire safety standard.

(8) New York State's cigarette fire safety standard is based upon decades of research by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Congressional research groups, and private industry.

(9) This cigarette fire safety standard minimizes costs to the State and minimally burdens cigarette manufacturers, distributors, and retail sellers, and, therefore, should become law in this State.

(10) It is therefore fitting and proper for this State to adopt the cigarette fire safety standard that is in effect in New York State to reduce the likelihood that cigarettes will cause fires and result in deaths, injuries, and property damages.

SECTION 3. Definitions. For the purposes of this act:

(1) "Agent" means any person authorized by the Department of Revenue to pay the excise tax on packages of cigarettes.

(2) "Cigarette" means:

a. Any roll for smoking, whether made wholly or in part of tobacco or any other substance, irrespective of size or shape, and whether or not such tobacco or substance is flavored, adulterated, or mixed with any other ingredient, the wrapper or cover of which is made of paper or any other substance or material, other than leaf tobacco; or

b. Any roll for smoking wrapped in any substance containing tobacco which, because of its appearance, the type of tobacco used in the filler, or its packaging and labeling, is likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as a cigarette as described in sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision.

(3) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Agriculture.

(3a) "Consumer testing" means an assessment of cigarettes that is conducted by a manufacturer (or under the control and direction of a manufacturer), for the purpose of evaluating consumer acceptance of such cigarettes, utilizing only the quantity of cigarettes that is reasonably necessary for such assessment, and in a controlled setting where the cigarettes are either consumed on‑site or returned to the testing administrators at the conclusion of the testing.

(4) "Manufacturer" means:

a. Any entity which manufactures or otherwise produces cigarettes or causes cigarettes to be manufactured or produced anywhere that such manufacturer intends to be sold in this State, including cigarettes intended to be sold in the United States through an importer;

b. The first purchaser anywhere that intends to resell in the United States cigarettes manufactured anywhere that the original manufacturer or maker does not intend to be sold in the United States; or

c. Any entity that becomes a successor of an entity described in sub-subdivision a. or b. of this subdivision.

(5) "Quality control and quality assurance program" means the laboratory procedures implemented to ensure that operator bias, systematic and nonsystematic methodological errors, and equipment‑related problems do not affect the results of the testing. Such a program ensures that the testing repeatability remains within the required repeatability values stated in Section 4(a6) of this act for all test trials used to certify cigarettes in accordance with this act.

(6) "Repeatability" means the range of values within which the repeat results of cigarette test trials from a single laboratory will fall ninety-five (95%) percent of the time.

(7) "Retail dealer" means any person, other than a manufacturer or wholesale dealer, engaged in selling cigarettes or tobacco products.

(8) "Sale" means any transfer of title or possession or both, exchange or barter, conditional or otherwise, in any manner or by any means whatever or any agreement therefor. In addition to cash and credit sales, the giving of cigarettes as samples, prizes or gifts, and the exchanging of cigarettes for any consideration other than money, are considered sales.

(9) "Sell" means to sell, or to offer or agree to do the same.

(10) "Wholesale dealer" means any person other than a manufacturer who sells cigarettes or tobacco products to retail dealers or other persons for purposes of resale, and any person who owns, operates, or maintains one or more cigarette or tobacco product vending machines in, at, or upon premises owned or occupied by any other person.

SECTION 4. Test Method and Performance Standard. (a) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, no cigarettes may be sold or offered for sale in this State or offered for sale or sold to persons located in this State unless the cigarettes have been tested in accordance with the test method and meet the performance standard specified in this section, a written certification has been filed by the manufacturer with the Commissioner in accordance with Section 5 of this act, and the cigarettes have been marked in accordance with Section 6 of this act.

SECTION 4.(a1) Testing of cigarettes shall be conducted in accordance with the American Society of Testing and Materials ("ASTM") standard E2187‑04, "Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes."

SECTION 4.(a2) Testing shall be conducted on 10 layers of filter paper.

SECTION 4.(a3) No more than 25 percent of the cigarettes tested in a test trial in accordance with this section shall exhibit full‑length burns. Forty replicate tests shall comprise a complete test trial for each cigarette tested.

SECTION 4.(a4) The performance standard required by this section shall only be applied to a complete test trial.

SECTION 4.(a5) Written certifications shall be based upon testing conducted by a laboratory that has been accredited pursuant to standard ISO/IEC 17025 of the International Organization for Standardization ("ISO"), or other comparable accreditation standard required by the Commissioner.

SECTION 4.(a6) Laboratories conducting testing in accordance with this section shall implement a quality control and quality assurance program that includes a procedure that will determine the repeatability of the testing results. The repeatability value shall be no greater than 0.19.

SECTION 4.(a7) This section does not require additional testing if cigarettes are tested consistent with this act for any other purpose.

SECTION 4.(a8) Testing performed or sponsored by the Commissioner to determine a cigarette's compliance with the performance standard required shall be conducted in accordance with this section.

SECTION 4.(b) Each cigarette listed in a certification submitted pursuant to Section 5 of this act that uses lowered permeability bands in the cigarette paper to achieve compliance with the performance standard set forth in this section shall have at least two nominally identical bands on the paper surrounding the tobacco column. At least one complete band shall be located at least 15 millimeters from the lighting end of the cigarette. For cigarettes on which the bands are positioned by design, there shall be at least two bands fully located at least 15 millimeters from the lighting end and 10 millimeters from the filter end of the tobacco column, or 10 millimeters from the labeled end of the tobacco column for non‑filtered cigarettes.

SECTION 4.(c) A manufacturer of a cigarette that the Commissioner determines cannot be tested in accordance with the test method prescribed in subsection (a1) of this section shall propose a test method and performance standard for the cigarette to the Commissioner. Upon approval of the proposed test method and a determination by the Commissioner that the performance standard proposed by the manufacturer is equivalent to the performance standard prescribed in subsection (a3) of this section, the manufacturer may employ such test method and performance standard to certify such cigarette pursuant to Section 5 of this act. If the Commissioner determines that another state has enacted reduced cigarette ignition propensity standards that include a test method and performance standard that are the same as those contained in this act, and the Commissioner finds that the officials responsible for implementing those requirements have approved the proposed alternative test method and performance standard for a particular cigarette proposed by a manufacturer as meeting the fire safety standards of that state's law or regulation under a legal provision comparable to this section, then the Commissioner shall authorize that manufacturer to employ the alternative test method and performance standard to certify that cigarette for sale in this State, unless the Commissioner demonstrates a reasonable basis why the alternative test should not be accepted under this act. All other applicable requirements of this section shall apply to the manufacturer.

SECTION 4.(d) Each manufacturer shall maintain copies of the reports of all tests conducted on all cigarettes offered for sale for a period of three years, and shall make copies of these reports available to the Commissioner and the Attorney General upon written request. Any manufacturer who fails to make copies of these reports available within 60 days of receiving a written request shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each day after the sixtieth day that the manufacturer does not make such copies available.

SECTION 4.(e) The Commissioner may adopt a subsequent ASTM Standard Test Method for measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes upon a finding that such subsequent method does not result in a change in the percentage of full‑length burns exhibited by any tested cigarette when compared to the percentage of full‑length burns the same cigarette would exhibit when tested in accordance with ASTM Standard E2187‑04 and the performance standard in subsection (a3) of this section.

SECTION 4.(f) The Commissioner shall review the effectiveness of this section and report every three years to the General Assembly the Commissioner's findings and, if appropriate, recommendations for legislation to improve the effectiveness of this act. The report and legislative recommendations shall be submitted no later than June 30 following the conclusion of each three‑year period.

SECTION 4.(g) The requirements of subsections (a) through (a8) of this section shall not prohibit:

(1) Wholesale or retail dealers from selling their existing inventory of cigarettes on or after the effective date of this act if the wholesale or retailer dealer can establish that state tax stamps were affixed to the cigarettes prior to the effective date and the wholesale or retailer dealer can establish that the inventory was purchased prior to the effective date in comparable quantity to the inventory purchased during the same period of the prior year.

(2) The sale of cigarettes solely for the purpose of consumer testing.

SECTION 4.(h) In implanting this act, the Commissioner may look to the implementation and substance of the New York Fire Safety Standards for Cigarettes for guidance.

SECTION 5. Certification and Product Change. (a) Each manufacturer shall submit to the Commissioner a written certification attesting that:

(1) Each cigarette listed in the certification has been tested in accordance with Section 4 of this act.

(2) Each cigarette listed in the certification meets the performance standard set forth in Section 4 of this act.

SECTION 5.(b) Each cigarette listed in the certification shall be described with the following information:

(1) Brand, or trade name on the package.

(2) Style, such as light or ultralight.

(3) Length in millimeters.

(4) Circumference in millimeters.

(5) Flavor, such as menthol or chocolate, if applicable.

(6) Filter or non‑filter.

(7) Package description, such as soft pack or box.

(8) Marking pursuant to Section 6 of this act.

(9) The name, address, and telephone number of the laboratory, if different than the manufacturer that conducted the test.

(10) The date that the testing occurred.

SECTION 5.(c) Certifications shall be made available to the Attorney General for purposes consistent with this act and the Commissioner for the purposes of ensuring compliance with this section.

SECTION 5.(d) Each cigarette certified under this section shall be recertified every three years.

SECTION 5.(e) For each cigarette listed in a certification, a manufacturer shall pay to the Commissioner a fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). The Commissioner may annually adjust this fee to ensure it defrays the actual costs of the processing, testing, enforcement, and oversight activities required by this act.

SECTION 5.(f) There is established in the State treasury a separate, nonreverting fund to be known as the "Fire Safety Standard and Firefighter Protection Act Enforcement Fund." The fund shall consist of all certification fees submitted by manufacturers, and shall, in addition to any other monies made available for such purpose, be available to the Commissioner solely to support processing, testing, enforcement, and oversight activities under this act.

SECTION 5.(g) If a manufacturer has certified a cigarette pursuant to this section, and thereafter makes any change to such cigarette that is likely to alter its compliance with the reduced cigarette ignition propensity standards required by this act, that cigarette shall not be sold or offered for sale in this State until the manufacturer retests the cigarette in accordance with the testing standards set forth in Section 4 of this act and maintains records of that retesting as required by Section 4 of this act. Any altered cigarette which does not meet the performance standard set forth in Section 4 of this act may not be sold in this State.

SECTION 6. Marking of Cigarette Packaging. (a) Cigarettes that are certified by a manufacturer in accordance with Section 5 of this act shall be marked to indicate compliance with the requirements of Section 4 of this act. The marking shall be in eight point type or larger and consist of:

(1) Modification of the product UPC Code to include a visible mark printed at or around the area of the UPC Code. The mark may consist of alphanumeric or symbolic characters permanently stamped, engraved, embossed, or printed in conjunction with the UPC.

(2) Any visible combination of alphanumeric or symbolic characters permanently stamped, engraved, or embossed upon the cigarette package or cellophane wrap.

(3) Printed, stamped, engraved, or embossed text that indicates that the cigarettes meet the standards of this act.

SECTION 6.(b) A manufacturer shall use only one marking, and shall apply this marking uniformly for all packages, including but not limited to packs, cartons, and cases, and brands marketed by that manufacturer.

SECTION 6.(c) The Commissioner shall be notified as to the marking that is selected.

SECTION 6.(d) Prior to the certification of any cigarette, a manufacturer shall present its proposed marking to the Commissioner for approval. Upon receipt of the request, the Commissioner shall approve or disapprove the marking offered, except that the Commissioner shall approve:

(1) Any marking in use and approved for sale in New York pursuant to the New York Fire Safety Standards for Cigarettes, or

(2) The letters "FSC," which signifies Fire Standards Compliant appearing in eight point type or larger and be permanently printed, stamped, engraved, or embossed on the package at or near the UPC Code.

SECTION 6.(d1) Proposed markings shall be deemed approved if the Commissioner fails to act within 10 business days of receiving a request for approval.

SECTION 6.(e) No manufacturer shall modify its approved marking unless the modification has been approved by the Commissioner in accordance with this section.

SECTION 6.(f) Manufacturers certifying cigarettes in accordance with Section 5 of this act shall provide a copy of the certifications to all wholesale dealers and agents to which they sell cigarettes, and shall also provide sufficient copies of an illustration of the package marking utilized by the manufacturer pursuant to this section for each retail dealer to which the wholesale dealers or agents sell cigarettes. Wholesale dealers, and agents shall provide a copy of these package markings received from manufacturers to all retail dealers to which they sell cigarettes. Wholesale dealers, agents and retail dealers shall permit the Commissioner, the Secretary of Revenue, the Attorney General, and their employees to inspect markings of cigarette packaging marked in accordance with this section.

SECTION 7. Penalties. (a) A manufacturer, wholesale dealer, agent, or any other person or entity who knowingly sells or offers to sell cigarettes, other than through retail sale, in violation of Section 4 of this act, shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each pack of such cigarettes sold or offered for sale provided that in no case shall the penalty against any such person or entity exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) during any 30‑day period.

SECTION 7.(b) A retail dealer who knowingly sells or offers to sell cigarettes in violation of Section 4 of this act shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each pack of such cigarettes sold or offered for sale, provided that in no case shall the penalty against any retail dealer exceed twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) for sales or offers to sell during any 30‑day period.

SECTION 7.(c) In addition to any penalty prescribed by law, any corporation, partnership, sole proprietor, limited partnership, or association engaged in the manufacture of cigarettes that knowingly makes a false certification pursuant to Section 5 of this act shall be subject to a civil penalty of at least seventy‑five thousand dollars ($75,000) but not to exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for each such false certification.

SECTION 7.(d) Any person violating any other provision in this act shall be subject to a civil penalty for a first offense not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), and for a subsequent offense subject to a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each such violation.

SECTION 7.(e) Any cigarettes that have been sold or offered for sale that do not comply with the performance standard required by Section 4 of this act shall be subject to forfeiture as contraband under the same procedures as G.S. 75D‑15 or G.S. 113‑412. Cigarettes forfeited pursuant to this section shall be destroyed; provided, however, that prior to the destruction of any cigarette forfeited pursuant to these provisions, the true holder of the trademark rights in the cigarette brand shall be permitted to inspect the cigarette.

SECTION 7.(f) In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the Commissioner or Attorney General may file an action in the superior court for a violation of this act, including petitioning for injunctive relief or to recover any costs or damages suffered by the State because of a violation of this act, including enforcement costs relating to the specific violation and attorneys' fees. Each violation of this act or of rules or regulations adopted under this act constitutes a separate civil violation for which the Commissioner or Attorney General may obtain relief.

SECTION 7.(g) Whenever any law enforcement personnel or duly authorized representative of the Commissioner shall discover any cigarettes that have not been marked in the manner required by Section 6 of this act, such personnel is hereby authorized and empowered to seize and take possession of such cigarettes. Such cigarettes shall be turned over to the Department of Revenue and shall be forfeited to the State. Cigarettes seized pursuant to this section shall be destroyed; provided, however, that prior to the destruction of any cigarette seized pursuant to these provisions, the true holder of the trademark rights in the cigarette brand shall be permitted to inspect the cigarette.

SECTION 8. Implementation. (a) The Commissioner may adopt rules, pursuant to Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

SECTION 8.(b) The Department of Revenue in the regular course of conducting inspections of wholesale dealers, agents, and retail dealers, as authorized under the Tobacco Products Tax Act, Article 2A of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes, may inspect such cigarettes to determine if the cigarettes are marked as required by Section 6 of this act. If the cigarettes are not marked as required, the Department of Revenue shall notify the Commissioner.

SECTION 9. Inspection. To enforce the provisions of this act, the Attorney General, the Department of Revenue, and the Commissioner, their duly authorized representatives, and other law enforcement personnel may examine the books, papers, invoices, and other records of any person in possession, control, or occupancy of any premises where cigarettes are placed, stored, sold, or offered for sale, as well as the stock of cigarettes on the premises. Every person in the possession, control, or occupancy of any premises where cigarettes are placed, sold, or offered for sale, is hereby directed and required to give the Attorney General, the Department of Revenue, and the Commissioner, their duly authorized representatives, and other law enforcement personnel the means, facilities, and opportunity for the examinations authorized by this section.

SECTION 10. Disposition of Penalties. The clear proceeds of civil penalties and forfeitures provided for in this act shall be remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund in accordance with G.S. 115C‑457.2.

SECTION 11. Sale Outside the State. Nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit any person or entity from manufacturing or selling cigarettes that do not meet the requirements of Section 4 of this act if the cigarettes are or will be stamped for sale in another state or are packaged for sale outside the United States, and that person or entity has taken reasonable steps to ensure that such cigarettes will not be sold or offered for sale to persons located in this State.

SECTION 12. Preemption. This act does not apply if a federal reduced cigarette ignition propensity standard that preempts this act is enacted and becomes effective, but such inapplicability does not affect any liability for forfeiture or penalties accrued prior to the effective date of the federal law.

SECTION 13. Effective Date. This act becomes effective on the first day of the thirteenth calendar month after enactment.