Reduced Ignition Propensity Cigarettes
Fires started by smokers' materials are the leading known cause of fire-related death in Canada. To address this issue, Health Canada is requiring all cigarettes manufactured or imported for sale in Canada to have a reduced likelihood of igniting upholstered furniture, mattresses and bedding.
Laboratory Analysis of Cigarette for Ignition Propensity
Since October 2005, Health Canada has been monitoring compliance with the new Cigarette Ignition Propensity Regulations. Health Canada has been sampling from Manufacturers/Importers to determine if their cigarettes comply with the standard outlined in the Regulations. The results of the laboratory analyses conducted on samples collected to date by Health Canada will be updated biannually or as warranted.
Regulations
The Cigarette Ignition Propensity Regulations require all cigarettes manufactured in or imported for sale into Canada on or after October 1, 2005 to meet an ignition propensity standard. The associated Regulations Amending the Tobacco Reporting Regulations require three toxicity tests to be conducted on cigarette emissions annually and that the results be reported to the Minister of Health. Both sets of regulations were registered on June 7, 2005 and were published in the June 29, 2005 issue of the Canada Gazette Part II.
Disclaimer: This is not an official version of these regulations. For all purposes of interpreting and applying these regulations, consult the regulations as registered by the Clerk of the Privy Council and published in Part II of the Canada Gazette.
Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement
The Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement for both regulations was published alongside the regulations in the June 29, 2005 issue of the Canada Gazette Part II. A Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement is a statement that justifies a regulatory action by demonstrating that the requirements of the
 Government of Canada's Regulatory Policy (PDF version) have been met.
Economic Evaluation
As part of the development of these regulations, Health Canada commissioned a study, entitled Economic Evaluation Of Health Canada's Regulatory Proposal For Reducing Fire Risks From Cigarettes, to examine the potential economic impact of these regulations.
Public Consultations
Prepublication in Canada Gazette Part I
The proposed regulations and the associated Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS) were prepublished in the May 1, 2004 edition of the Canada Gazette Part I. This initiated a 75-day period where interested parties could submit comments for consideration by Health Canada. A total of fifty-one respondents offered their insight, concerns and recommendations. A summary of the responses can be found in the report entitled Overview and Summary of Responses to Proposed Cigarette Ignition Propensity Regulations and Regulations Amending the Tobacco Reporting Regulations.
Consultation Document
In December 2002, Health Canada published a consultation document, entitled Regulatory Proposal for Reducing Fire Risks from Cigarettes, to elicit comments on the suitability of a government mandated standard for cigarette ignition propensity under the Tobacco Act. Health Canada received forty-five responses to the consultation document. A summary of the responses can be found in the report entitled Overview Of Responses To Regulatory Proposal For Reducing Fire Risks From Cigarettes.
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