It is unlawful for a person to:

A. sell or distribute in this state; acquire, hold, own, possess or transport for sale or distribution in this state; or to import, or cause to be imported, into this state for sale or distribution in this state:

(1) cigarettes, the package of which:

(a) bears a statement, label, stamp, sticker or notice indicating that the manufacturer did not intend the cigarettes to be sold, distributed or used in the United States, including labels that state: "for export only", "U.S. tax exempt", "for use outside U.S." or similar wording; or

(b) does not comply with: 1) all requirements imposed by or pursuant to federal law regarding warnings and other information on packages of cigarettes manufactured, packaged or imported for sale, distribution or use in the United States, including the precise warning labels specified in 15 USCA 1333; and 2) all federal trademark and copyright laws;

(2) cigarettes imported into the United States on or after January 1, 2000 in violation of 26 USCA 5754, any other federal law or federal implementing regulations;

(3) cigarettes that the person acting in regard thereto otherwise knows or has reason to know the manufacturer did not intend to be sold, distributed or used in the United States; or

(4) cigarettes for which there has not been submitted to the secretary of the United States department of health and human services the list or lists of the ingredients added to tobacco in the manufacture of those cigarettes as required by 15 USCA 1335A;

B. alter the package of any cigarettes prior to sale or distribution to the ultimate consumer by removing, concealing or obscuring:

(1) a statement, label, stamp, sticker or notice described in Subparagraph (a) of Paragraph (1) of Subsection A of this section; or

(2) a health warning that is not specified in, or does not conform with the requirements of, 15 USCA 1333; or

C. affix a stamp required pursuant to the Cigarette Tax Act [7-12-1 NMSA 1978] to a package of cigarettes described in Subsection A of this section or altered in violation of Subsection B of this section.

History: Laws 2000, ch. 77, § 3.

Effective dates. — Laws 2000, ch. 77, § 11 made the Cigarette Enforcement Act effective July 1, 2000.