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A new fire-safety bill passed in New York means that by 2003, all cigarettes
sold in the state will have to be self-extinguishing. New York is the first
state to pass such a measure, although others such as California are considering
similar laws, and this may spur Congress to act on proposals for a national
flammability standard to reduce fires caused by cigarettes left burning
unattended. “We believe that a national standard is preferable to 50 potentially
conflicting state standards,” says Kati Otto of cigarette manufacturer Philip
Morris.