Swedish Match North America was ordered to pay $1.2 million in mediation fees for violating a ban on flavored cigarettes in Washington, D.C., and agreed to take steps to ensure it complied with the ban, including monitoring dealers and notification law restrictions.
Swedish Match fined $1.2 million by D.C. for violating flavored tobacco ban
According to Fox5dc on December 13, Brian L. Schwalb, the Attorney General of the United States of Washington, D.C., announced on Friday (13th) that Swedish Match North America LLC, (” SMNA”) was ordered to pay $1.2 million in settlement fees for violating Washington. D.C.’s 2022 ban on flavored cigarettes.
The settlement follows an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office (” OAG “) that revealed the company used its website to sell tens of thousands of flavored smoke tar products in the District. SMNA, which is Philip Morris International (PMI), agreed to take steps to ensure its compliance with the ban, including monitoring its dealers and notifying them annually of the legal restrictions.
Schwab said at a news conference.
- “Cigarette products like ZYN cigarette tar bags are strictly banned because these products are dangerous and addictive and threaten the tremendous progress young people have made in reducing their cigarette use.” Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers should be aware that our office is actively enforcing this ban and be ready to take action to ensure the health and safety of our children.”
In 2024, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that about 3.5% of U.S. Middle and high school students (about 890,000 people) reported using smoke tar bags.
According to OAG’s investigation, SMNA pushed D.C., consumers, to shop through its website from Oct. 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024. ZYN.com’s purchase of flavored ZYN products violates the Flavor ban and the D.C. Consumer Protection Program Act (CPPA).
Following the OAG subpoena, SMNA stopped selling flavored goods in the District and stopped using all its websites for sales.
As part of the mediation, the business agreed to adopt the following methods:
- To pay $1.2 million to the District;
- Monitor distributors to ensure compliance with the flavoring ban, including quarterly inspections and cessation of illegal operations, and dealers who continue to violate the rules will be at risk of ceasing distribution agreements;
- Distributors and retailers send annual compliance alerts to D.C. regarding the flavoring ban and related laws;
- D.C. via shop. zyn. futurecom or other related e-commerce platforms are prohibited. Selling cigarette-flavored goods.
