Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Kentucky And West Virginia Among States To Reach Settlement With Santa Fe Tobacco Company.
Attorney General Jack Conway announced today that his office, along with 41 other states, has reached a settlement with Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company after the company violated the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement by distributing decorative tin signs to consumers that featured its “Natural American Spirit” cigarettes brand name.
Distribution of merchandise bearing the brand name of cigarette companies violates the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), the historic settlement between state attorneys general and tobacco manufacturers. According to the settlement announced today, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company agrees not to distribute the following types of brand name merchandise in the future: decorative tin signs; toys; games; fashion accessories; CDs; DVDs; video games; clothing; athletic equipment; outdoor gear; luggage; stationery items; house wares; and paintings or plaques intended for the home. In addition, Santa Fe agrees to pay a penalty of $250 for every future violation of the agreement.
The MSA, which was reached in 1998, required tobacco companies to pay more than $200 billion to 52 states and territories, and imposed significant marketing and advertising restrictions on the participating tobacco manufacturers. Since the MSA was signed, American consumption of cigarettes has declined by over 100 billion cigarettes, based on data from the American Lung Association. According to the Centers for Disease Control, however, tobacco-related disease continues to be the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and results in more than $190 billion in medical expenses each year.
The states comprising the coalition include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.
Distribution of merchandise bearing the brand name of cigarette companies violates the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), the historic settlement between state attorneys general and tobacco manufacturers. According to the settlement announced today, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company agrees not to distribute the following types of brand name merchandise in the future: decorative tin signs; toys; games; fashion accessories; CDs; DVDs; video games; clothing; athletic equipment; outdoor gear; luggage; stationery items; house wares; and paintings or plaques intended for the home. In addition, Santa Fe agrees to pay a penalty of $250 for every future violation of the agreement.
The MSA, which was reached in 1998, required tobacco companies to pay more than $200 billion to 52 states and territories, and imposed significant marketing and advertising restrictions on the participating tobacco manufacturers. Since the MSA was signed, American consumption of cigarettes has declined by over 100 billion cigarettes, based on data from the American Lung Association. According to the Centers for Disease Control, however, tobacco-related disease continues to be the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and results in more than $190 billion in medical expenses each year.
The states comprising the coalition include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 3:32 PM 
