Brussels, 28 February 2007 - A new EU campaign to introduce self-extinguishing cigarettes and help prevent 1,000 deaths and 13m euros of damage caused by smoking-related fires across Europe every year is to be launched today (Wednesday 28 February) in Brussels.

Fire fighters, fire victims and campaigners from across Europe are calling for a new EU standard to ensure that all cigarettes are produced in a way that ensures they usually go out when not being smoked. Known as ‘RIP’, which stands for ‘reduced ignition propensity’, the technology is based on a particular design that reduces the cigarette’s propensity to burn but makes no difference to the taste of the cigarette.