Tobacco Documents Online

LEXIS®-NEXIS® View Printable Page Page 18 of 43 Copyright 2000 PR Newswire Association, Inc. PR Newswire February 1, 2000, Tuesday SECTION: STATE AND REGIONAL NEWS DISTRIBUTION: TO STATE AND RETAILING EDITORS LENGTH: 267 words HEADLINE: Pennsylvania Department of Revenue: Law Against Gray-Market Cigarettes Soon to Take Effect; Those Caught Selling Illegal Cigarettes to Face Penalties DATELINE: HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 1 BODY: Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Robert A. Judge Sr. today reminded cigarette dealers of the new law that takes effect Feb. 15 outlawing the sale of "gray-market" cigarettes. Act 66 of 1999 bans the sale of gray-market cigarettes. Anyone caught selling, transferring or delivering any package of gray-market cigarettes after Feb. 15 will be subject to civil and criminal penalties that include imprisonment and fines up to $20,000. "While this has not historically been a big issue in Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Ridge and the General Assembly acted quickly to preempt this from becoming a problem," Judge said. "These cigarettes are not intended for consumption in the United States and don't meet our standards." Gray-market cigarettes pose a health risk due to the use of higher levels of tar and nicotine and different filters. Gray-market cigarettes are manufactured in the United States for sale in foreign countries and may not have the warning labels required by federal law to be on all cigarette packages. Also, they are exempt from federal tax and may have been altered by persons other than the manufacturer. Retailers with questions should call the Department of Revenue's Office of Criminal Tax Investigations at 717-783-4649. For more information, contact Deb Snyder, Press Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, 717-787-6960. SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Revenue CONTACT: Deb Snyder, Press Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, 717-787-6960 URL: http://www.prnewswire.com LANGUAGE: ENGLISH LOAD-DATE: February 2, 2000 N 0 ~ cn Cn co co 0 N y http://web.lexis-nexis.com/ln.universe/search/submitViewTagged 6/1/00