LEGAL CHANGES RESTRICT MAILING OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS
To comply with legislation passed this year by Congress and signed into law by the president, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products will be subject to new mailing regulations beginning June 29. Public Law No. 111-154 — Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act — was signed March 31.
With only a few limited exceptions, packages containing cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products can no longer be mailed. The ban extends to cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco. The prohibition does not include cigars.
The law does permit infrequent lightweight shipments by age-verified adults to recipients who can purchase tobacco legally. Shipments between businesses in the tobacco industry also will be permitted, as well as cigarettes sent to consumers age 21 and above for testing or public health purposes. Photo identification and age verification wil be required at the shipment's destination. Shipments entirely within Alaska or Hawaii are also permitted.
With the exception of shipments entirely within Alaska and Hawaii or from the United States to APO/FPO/DPO destinations, mailings are only permitted using Express Mail Hold For Pickup service.
NEW MAILING STANDARD. The new issue ofPostal Bulletin contains a Field Information Kit on the PACT Act: Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco as Nonmailable Matter. .
