(a) Cigarettes that are certified by a manufacturer in accordance with section 299F.852 must be marked to indicate compliance with the requirements of section 299F.851. The marking must be in eight-point type or larger and consist of:

(1) modification of the product UPC code to include a visible mark printed at or around the area of the UPC code, which may consist of alphanumeric or symbolic characters permanently stamped, engraved, embossed, or printed in conjunction with the UPC;

(2) any visible combination of alphanumeric or symbolic characters permanently stamped, engraved, or embossed upon the cigarette package or cellophane wrap; or

(3) printed, stamped, engraved, or embossed text that indicates that the cigarettes meet the standards of sections 299F.850 to 299F.859.

(b) A manufacturer shall use only one marking and shall apply this marking uniformly for all brands marketed by that manufacturer and all packages, including but not limited to packs, cartons, and cases.

(c) The state fire marshal must be notified as to the marking that is selected.

(d) Prior to the certification of any cigarette, a manufacturer shall present its proposed marking to the state fire marshal for approval. Upon receipt of the request, the state fire marshal shall approve or disapprove the marking offered, except that the state fire marshal shall approve any marking in use and approved for sale in New York pursuant to the New York "Fire Safety Standards for Cigarettes." Proposed markings are deemed approved if the state fire marshal fails to act within ten business days of receiving a request for approval.

(e) No manufacturer shall modify its approved marking unless the modification has been approved by the state fire marshal in accordance with this section.

(f) Manufacturers certifying cigarettes in accordance with section 299F.852 shall provide a copy of the certifications to all wholesale dealers and agents to which they sell cigarettes, and shall also provide sufficient copies of an illustration of the package marking utilized by the manufacturer pursuant to this section for each retail dealer to which the wholesale dealers or agents sell cigarettes. Wholesale dealers and agents shall provide a copy of these package markings received from manufacturers to all retail dealers to whom they sell cigarettes. Wholesale dealers, agents, and retail dealers shall permit the state fire marshal, the commissioner of revenue, the attorney general, and their employees to inspect markings of cigarette packaging marked in accordance with this section.

History: 2007 c 54 art 7 s 13,22

NOTE: This section is repealed if a federal reduced cigarette ignition propensity standard that preempts this section is adopted and becomes effective. Laws 2007, chapter 54, article 7, section 22.