The RIP campaign at EU level is coordinated by Florence Berteletti-Kemp at the Smoke-Free Partnership. Created in 2006, The EU RIP Alliance is a new independent and flexible partnership open for membership.
Launched at a hearing in the European Parliament in February 2007, the EU RIP Cigarettes Alliance campaigns for safer cigarettes in Europe.
In view of the fact that it is technologically and economically feasible for cigarettes to meet fire-safety standards, the EU RIP Alliance aims to promote ignition propensity based on the same standard as in New York and Canada (ASTM International) E2187.
A call for action
In collaboration with other EU organisations such as the European Fire Safety Network www.raddningsverket.se/firesafetynetwork and the RIP coalition in the UK, the EU RIP Alliance campaigns for fire safer cigarettes in Europe. We would like to hear from other organisations in Europe who are interested in the campaign for fire safer cigarettes either by joining the European Coalition or looking to establish a National Coalition. For more information on the campaign please go to:
www.firesafercigarettes.org.uk
The next General Product Safety Directive meeting to discuss fire safer cigarettes is being held in June in Brussels. We need organizations at national level to write to their government before the meeting, asking them to support legislation on fire safer cigarettes.
Other Members of the European Parliament and representatives of EU organisations and associations are invited to join the EU RIP Alliance by signing the Pledge (attached document) in the coming days, weeks and months.
Finally, a Parliamentary Declaration will be launched soon. We will need organizations to write to their MEPS to sign the Declaration in support for the introduction of fire safety standards for cigarettes. As soon as the text is ready and on-line, we will let you know.
Current members of the EU RIP Cigarretes Alliance
– The European Child Safety Alliance, EuroSafe
– The European Older People’s Platform
– The European Federation of Nurses Associations
– The European Public Health Alliance
– Eurocare
– PGEU
– The Health & Environment Alliance