54:40A-59 Marking of cigarettes as certified.

6. a. Cigarettes that are certified by a manufacturer in accordance with section 5 of this act shall be marked to indicate compliance with the requirements of section 4 of this act. The marking shall be in eight point font type or larger and consist of:

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

(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 this section.

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

c. The director shall 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 director for approval. Upon receipt of the request, the director shall approve or disapprove the marking offered, except that the director shall approve any marking in use and approved for sale in New York State pursuant to the New York Fire Safety Standards for Cigarettes. Proposed markings shall be deemed approved if the director fails to act within 10 business days of receiving a request for approval.

e. No manufacturer shall modify its approved marking unless the modification has been approved by the director in accordance with this section.

f. Manufacturers certifying cigarettes in accordance with section 5 of this act 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 which they sell cigarettes. Wholesale dealers, agents, and retail dealers shall permit the director, the Director of the Division of Taxation, the Attorney General, their employees, or other law enforcement personnel to inspect markings of cigarette packaging marked in accordance with this section.

L.2007, c.86, s.6.