TobaccoReporter logo

Tag: U.S. Postal Service

  • Postal Service Settles Tobacco Shipments Suit

    Postal Service Settles Tobacco Shipments Suit

    Photo: will milne

    The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has settled a lawsuit brought by New York City and four states over illegal cigarette shipments, reports AP News. The suit was originally filed in 2019 by the city and California. Connecticut, Illinois and Pennsylvania joined the case in 2020.

    The plaintiffs contended that the Postal Service wasn’t doing enough to enforce the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) law of 2010, which prohibits the mailing of cigarettes in most cases.

    In the lawsuit, plaintiffs said tens of thousands of packages sent from other countries instead made it through the postal system for delivery, and said when packages were found, the agency would return them to senders instead of destroying them.

    As part of the settlement, the USPS agreed to take steps to make sure it was complying with the PACT Act, including enhancing how it carried out screenings to find contraband packages as well as develop training for employees.

    The agency also agreed to destroy cigarette packages instead of mailing them back to the senders and issuing letters to the senders that cigarettes can’t be mailed.

    “We were not going to stand idly by as foreign shippers circumvented federal law in an effort to avoid billions in taxes and hook underage kids on nicotine,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams in a statement.

    The Postal Service said while it “considers that it has always been in full compliance with federal law regarding the handling of cigarette packages in international mail, we do support the goals of the settlement agreement, and for that reason, we have decided to resolve this lawsuit and to work cooperatively with all of the parties to this case to advance those goals.”

    The “settlement forces the U.S. Postal Service to do its job to stop the flow of foreign contraband cigarettes into the United States,” said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong. “These smuggled cigarettes cost all states, including Connecticut, hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost tax revenue and hinder smoking cessation efforts.”

  • Bantam Vape Exempted from Shipping Ban

    Bantam Vape Exempted from Shipping Ban

    Photo: Bantam Vape

    The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has granted Bantam Vape an exception from its ban on shipping vapor products. Bantam Vape will be allowed to ship its e-liquid products to select vape retailers and distributors throughout the United States.

    The postal service’s decision comes in response to Bantam’s application for a business purposes exception to the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act, which was amended by Congress on Dec. 27, 2020, prohibiting the shipment of e-cigarettes and vapor products through the USPS.

    “Bantam’s ability to reengage USPS as a shipper of our high-quality, flavor-filled e-liquids allows us to more effectively serve our trusted retail and distribution partners,” said Bantam spokesperson Anthony Dillon. “Utilizing USPS as an alternative shipping channel provides our business-to-business customers with increased purchase order flexibility and decreased shipping timelines and costs.”

    Bantam provided the USPS with the necessary documentation to obtain its exception to the PACT Act prohibition against shipment of vapor products through the USPS. This included submission of applicable state and federal permits and licenses for both Bantam and its customers named in the application.

    “We thank USPS for processing our application in a timely manner and in helping us deliver alternatives to combustible cigarettes to our customers across the U.S.,” said Dillon. “As we continue to grow our brand’s customer base, Bantam is committed to adding retailers and distributors to the list of those we can ship to using USPS.”

  • Halo Exempted From Vape Mail Ban

    Halo Exempted From Vape Mail Ban

    Photo: will milne

    The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has granted Pure Labs permission to ship its Halo brand of vaping products to compliant businesses through the brand’s Master Distributors, Syndicate Global Distribution and Halo Wholesale Direct.

    The approval constitutes a regulatory exception to the mailing restrictions described in the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act.

    The original PACT Act was amended by Congress on Dec. 27, 2020, to incorporate e-cigarettes and vaping products.

    “This is a huge win for Halo and for all of our retail partners,” said Kevin Dietz, director of Halo brand sales, in a statement. “Halo’s tobacco and menthol vape products are in demand by adult consumers throughout the country, and we are excited to have USPS solidify the supply chain. Halo has been here from the start and has numerous ENDS products in the final stage required for FDA authorization, furthering Halo’s commitment to remain America’s No. 1 tobacco-flavored e-liquid brand.”

    In December, Turning Point Brands received a USPS exemption to ship vapor products to age-restricted vape shops across the United States through VaporBeast and other websites.