(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an appropriate stamp shall be affixed to, or an appropriate meter impression shall be made on each package of cigarettes prior to the distribution of the cigarettes.

(b) No stamp or meter impression may be affixed to, or made upon, any package of cigarettes if any one of the following occurs:

(1) The package does not comply with all requirements of the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 1331 and following) for the placement of labels, warnings, or any other information upon a package of cigarettes that is to be sold within the United States.

(2) The package is labeled “For Export Only,” “U.S. Tax Exempt,” “For Use Outside U.S.,” or similar wording indicating that the manufacturer did not intend that the product be sold in the United States.

(3) The package, or a package containing individually stamped packages, has been altered by adding or deleting the wording, labels, or warnings described in paragraph (1) or (2).

(4) The package was imported into the United States after January 1, 2000, in violation of Section 5754 of Title 26 of the United States Code.

(5) (A) The package bears a cigarette brand name which is a registered U.S. trademark of a participating manufacturer and the package was imported by anyone other than the participating manufacturer of that cigarette brand.

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, “participating manufacturer” has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 104557 of the Health and Safety Code and in Section II(jj) of the Master Settlement Agreement described in Article 3 (commencing with Section 104555) of Chapter 1 of Part 3 of Division 103 of the Health and Safety Code.

(c) Pursuant to its authority under Section 30148, the board shall revoke the license issued to a distributor that is determined to be in violation of this section.

(d) A violation of subdivision (b) shall constitute unfair competition under Section 17200 of the Business and Professions Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 18, Sec. 1. Effective May 5, 2000.)