Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to 501 CMR 14.00

Pursuant to M.G.L. c.30A, s. 2, notice is given of a public hearing to be held by the Department of Fire Services (DFS) on behalf of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security at the DFS Stow Campus, 1 State Road, Stow, MA., in the Boards and Commissions Room on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. for the purpose of hearing public comment on several proposed amendments to 501 CMR 14.00: Testing, Certification, Marking and Enforcement of Massachusetts’ Fire Standard Compliant Cigarettes. 

This set of amendments relates to several administrative updates/improvements in the certification process for cigarette manufacturers and the Department of Fire Services Fire Standard Cigarette program. These improvements include: manufacturers being required to submit lab test results no more than 365 days old to ensure compliance with relevant standards when applying for certification; allowing the DFS to invoice manufacturers for certification fees once processed and approved to avoid the potential practice of issuing refunds for rejected or incomplete certification applications; allowing for electronic payments by manufacturers; allowing for pro-rated certification periods and fees so that manufacturers and DFS can align certification dates for all brands styles of a particular manufacturer for administrative convenience and improved record keeping of both parties. Finally, these amendments offer clarity and readability improvements to the end user. 

Written or oral comments may be submitted at the time and place of the hearing.  One may also submit written comments by mailing or e-mailing comments to Glenn Rooney, General Counsel, Department of Fire Services, P.O. Box 1025, State Rd, Stow, MA. 01775 (glenn.rooney@mass.gov).  To be considered, mailed or emailed comments must be received no later than 4:00 p.m., January 9th, 2025.