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Press ReleaseUtah signed a settlement today with the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company to stop the company from putting its brand name on merchandise.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and a coalition of attorneys general from 41 other states and the District of Columbia took part in the agreement after the tobacco company sent consumers decorative tin signs featuring "Natural American Spirit" cigarettes.
Distribution of merchandise bearing the brand name of cigarette companies violates the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). The 1998 settlement between state attorneys general and tobacco manufacturers required tobacco companies to pay over $200 billion and imposed significant marketing and advertising restrictions.
"A tin sign may seem like a small matter but Utah stands to lose millions of dollars if the MSA is not vigorously enforced," says Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. "Today's agreement also makes it clear that we will not tolerate merchandise featuring Joe Camel, the Marlboro man or any other tobacco icons."
According to today's settlement, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company agrees not to distribute the following types of brand name merchandise in the future: decorative tin signs; toys; games; fashion accessories; CDs; DVDs; video games; clothing; athletic equipment; outdoor gear; luggage; stationery items; house wares; and paintings and plaques intended for the home. Santa Fe also agrees to pay a penalty of $250 for every future violation of the agreement.
Assistant Attorney General Kathy Kinsman worked on the agreement. Kinsman monitors compliance and enforces the prohibitions in the MSA.
Since the MSA was signed, the American Lung Association has found that American consumption of cigarettes has declined by over 100 billion cigarettes. However, the Centers for Disease Control reports tobacco-related disease continues to be the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and results in more than $190 billion in medical expenses each year.
The coalition includes: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.
(Courtesy Utah Attorney General's Office)
